Coopersville & Marne Railway Questions

[NS3322]

I have a few questions about the C&M...

How often do they use the G.E. 44-Ton #3049? And does it ever power excursions?
Will Canadian National #1395 ever run?
What is the status on the Tuscola & Saginaw Bay Alco?
And do they still only have one freight customer?

[Saturnalia]

3049 is a yard goat. It only runs excursions very rarely, if the 7014 is down

Standard Lumber is still their only online business

1395 is a piece of scrapper's pie

...and so is the Alco

[Firemedic Mike]

3049 is also the resident snowplow. Can't forget that important feature.

[EWRice]

3049 is a factory 50ton GE. Very different from a 44 ton, but almost identical to the 45ton.

As bad as 1395 looks, I believe all the parts are around and an initial boiler inspection looked promising. Sheet metal is shot. That being said, I would be shocked if it ever ran on the C&M.

The Corkpine Express has no traction motors, and has not run in years. It did run, and I believe RDD was there. Wiring is UGLY!

[Raildudes dad]

For the link to the thread on the last time the Alco ran search "crankcase explosion" on this site.. The engine running sure sounded neat.

[Saturnalia]

For the link to the thread on the last time the Alco ran search "crankcase explosion" on this site.. The engine running sure sounded neat.

I'll save them the time, here's the direct link.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6691&hilit=Crankcase+explosion

[Raildudes dad]

Thanks I tried and couldn't get it to work. Now I see what I did wrong
JT know yet

[Schteinkuh]

And yes, Standard Lumber on Fruit Ridge Ave is still the only freight customer. But for frequency details ask RDD, that's not my thing.

[chessiefan1980]

One customer? Thats too bad. I see that Continental dairy in Coopersville has a spur. Wonder why no service there?

[PM1946]

A trip through Coopersville this afternoon revealed a unit of light yellow articulated gondolas parked just west of the engine house. I couldn't find any reporting marks, but they were lettered "Genzink Steel slot machine work platforms." They looked new; no graffiti nor road dirt. Anyone have any idea of what they're used for or why they're there? Perhaps they're on their way to the Continental Dairy plant. Only a guess though.

[M.D.Bentley]

Genzink Steel ( Holland Mi ) builds things. Most likely a long gondola type car. Guessing.

[Raildudes dad]

The Continental Dairy plant was a previously a GM plant. It was supposed to receive tank cars of cutting fluids. There was quite a tank farm built but the industry learned how to recycle the fluids and the plant only ever received small tank truck loads.

I don't expect the plant will ever use rail.

Standard Lumber receives about a dozen center beams a year. Southern yellow pine from down south, spruce from eastern Canada, and fir from western Canada. They are up front that they prefer truck delivery.

The set of articulated gons is GREX 3690 - a Georgetown Rail Slot Train set waiting for approval to be shipped where Georgetown Rail wants it shipped. Genzink Steel fabricated the units in Holland. They leased track space from the C&M to assemble and test the train-set. Once approval is received, the C&M will deliver it to interchange with the GRE. Genzink will assemble a second set in Coopersville the second week of June.

[NS3322]

Here are some photos I took on Memorial Day:

At 11:30 a.m. the #3049 was busy moving the CSX boxcar to the station so they could unload some extra chairs. These were for the presentation local dignitaries gave to the veterans that rode the train. Does anyone have a more in depth history on the #3049?



The John Engler is now safely protected from the elements. What are the plans for her?


CN #1395 Why did the CPMY buy her in the first place? Was is it plan to eventually restore her?


TSBY #2394


CO 5208


Southern Pacific caboose? Any info on this?


And at 12:30 p.m. GTW 7014 arrived in Coopersville; bringing the local heroes.

[Firemedic Mike]

The 3049 is a GE 50 ton centercab switcher. It was built in Feb 1957 in Erie, PA. Serial 32850 on the builder's plate. Class B-B-100/100-2GE763. 300hp. Railroad website lists it as having 2 HBI 600 Cummins Diesel engines and shows that it came from DuPont Chemical in Montegue Mi.

[EWRice]

NS3322, was that you in the blue GT shirt filming/photographing on monday? Or was that somebody else on here?

[NS3322]

NS3322, was that you in the blue GT shirt filming/photographing on monday? Or was that somebody else on here?

Yes that was me.

[Raildudes dad]

3049 was one of a pair at the DuPont Montague Works, No 1 and No 2. Both were red with white trim and built for Standard Oil. One left by rail, the second was landlocked when CSX pulled up the Montague branch. The C&M bought it when they sold their 50 ton 2 axle to Gordon Morris at the MSO. He repainted it, numbered it #14 and paired it with #15 an 80 ton center cab. There's a photo of the two in White Pigeon on this site.

The cab is ex N&W an MOW / Engineering Dept slack action test car. The boarded up window is a sound insulated room for a genset. It was named for an employee whose name escapes me.

1395 was purchased by Jeff DuPilka in about 1990 from Steamtown? with hopes of restoring it someday.

[NS3322]

The cab is ex N&W an MOW / Engineering Dept slack action test car. The boarded up window is a sound insulated room for a genset. It was named for an employee whose name escapes me.

The CPMY website labels it as Southern Pacific Caboose #910804. Thank you for the clarification.

[NS3322]

Finally got the video up!

[J T]

Finally got the video up!

How about this C&M video.