Just got this update in an email. They seem really sure of themselves...
The Grand Elk Railroad filed an application Nov. 3, 2008, with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to operate 122.9 miles of railroad that runs from Grand Rapids, Mich. to Elkhart, Ind. The filing process is expected to take 60 days with approval anticipated by January 26, 2009 and the start-up date for operations is March 1, 2009. The Grand Elk is taking the lines over from Norfolk Southern.
The Grand Elk Railroad will be operated by Watco Companies, Inc. (Watco) and serve more than 55 Customers in Michigan and Indiana. Watco is a Pittsburg, Kan. based transportation company established in 1983. Watco’s focus on Customer Satisfaction has grown the company into an all-encompassing industry serving rail, mechanical, switching, storage, trucking, warehousing and intermodal needs of Customers throughout 24 states.
The Grand Elk will help the area’s economy by providing freight service to Customers at various locations. As part of this trans- action the Grand Elk will be investing significant resources in improving the railroad. Currently, speeds on portions of the railroad have dropped to 10 mph and the Grand Elk Railroad will be inserting ties and working on the line to bring the speed up to 25 mph from Elkhart to Grand Rapids.
Annual carloads are projected at 22,000, the equivalent of 60,000-80,000 trucks, and will provide shippers with a cost effective method to transport product. Commodities that will be shipped on the Grand Elk include automotive parts, plastics, metals, lumber and wood products and aggregates.
The primary mission of the Grand Elk will be to safely provide service to its 55 existing Customers, and to add value to the communities that are served by growing the business on the railroad.
Three different yards will be located on the Grand Elk line; the Botsford in Kalamazoo, Mich., the Fischer in Wyoming, Mich., and the Hughart in Grand Rapids, Mich., which will house the locomotive shop. The Botsford Yard consists of 19 tracks, the Hughart Yard has 20 and the Fischer Yard has 8 tracks.
The Grand Elk office will be located in Kalamazoo at the Botsford Yard on Mill Street. Grand Elk Railroad will interchange with three Class I railroads including: Norfolk Southern at Kalamazoo, Mich., and Elkhart, Ind., Canadian National at Kalamazoo, Mich., and the CSX interchanges in Grand Rapids, Ind. Three short lines, Marquette Railroad, Mid-Michigan Railroad and the Grand Rapids Eastern Railroad will interchange at Grand Rapids, Mich. The Michigan Southern Railroad will interchange at White Pigeon, Mich.
Fifty-four people will be employed by the Grand Elk in the following areas: seven management positions, 27 transportation, three mechanical, eight engineering (track), three car repair, four signal and two clerical. All positions will be full-time with benefits included.
More information about Watco can be found at
http://www.watcocompanies.com.