One idea I've had now and again over the past four to five years has been taking the time to follow some of the more northerly shortline subdivisions in this state that, historically, have received little photographic coverage. One idea that has crossed my mind a number of times has been following the MMRR Alma subdivision between Alma and Paines, near Saginaw. I'm considering heading up towards the Mount Pleasant/Clare area later this week, and I've figured that now is about as good a time as any to explore this line and, if possible, chase the train from Alma to Paines and back. The problem is, this line hasn't received much press for the past few years and most of what it formerly got was on Michiganrailroads.com, rendering it irretrievable. So lets have a refresher here and archive it.
What are the current operations on the line like? I know that since MMRR 3836 went to Muskegon several years ago, the engine used has changed now and again. What is doing the job currently? What customers are on the line? I know there's the GLC interchange in Alma as well as Bear Truss in St. Louis. What are the speeds on the line at present? When does the job go on duty and on what days? Answers to any of these questions would be very much appreciated. Thanks in advance to anyone!
Gregg,
Currently they are running as needed, 2-3x per week at best, but hopefully should pickup soon with the grain season upon us.
Usually using a HESR GP38-2 or even a CORP unit recently.
Customers are:
Alma
Alma Iron and Metal
Terry Materials
St Louis
Bear Truss
Fertilizer place inside of Bear
Also a business in the industrial park just west of town that looks to receive a car of plastic from time to time
Breckenridge
MAC (in town)
MAC (outside of town)
Crop Production Services
Wheeler
MAC Seed
Hemlock
Grain Elevator (cant recall name)
Hemlock SemiConductor (been receiving transformers by rail in town then trucked to plant)
Speeds are 25mph outside of Yard Limits. 10 - 20 mph in Yard Limits depending on location.
Job called anywhere when working from 0600 to as late as i've seen 1200 or so. Engine house is in Alma but engine has been known to layover where a crew has died.
Last edited by BerkshireKid on Sun Oct 18, 2009 11:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Rule #1: BerkshireKid is God. Rule #2: God is always right. Rule #3: If you think you may actually be right refer to Rules #1 & #2.
It is usually HESR 3868 along that line, but it will be switched out with another HESR unit. Typically there will be only one engine on the MMRR at a time.
Odds are better to see things happening east of Hemlock if SBS has cars to interchange for them at Paines. The only time a crew would start out at Paines is when they are taxied there. My only photos from the MMRR were from when I happened to see the SBS going out there and having 3868 waiting to met them.
Paines is used for interchanging and running the power around trains primarily. It is located along River Road, nearly two miles south of M-46 near the town of Shields.
HESR 3868 at Paines
HESR 3868 at the Van Wormer Road crossing, which is located just east of M-52.
I'd be interested in seeing the pictures you get. I grew up in Merrill and remember tearing off down to the tracks on my banana bike when I heard the Chessies coming. I noticed that they finally removed the tracks by the elevator there sometime this year I only get up that way on weekends and have never seen MMRR running.
They handle 65 car loaded unit trains with one engine from Hemlock and Breckenridge to Paines
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
I don't know if Northwest Energy (propane dealer between Breckenridge and Wheeler) still gets service, but they have a spur with a platform. Also, rumor around St. Louis is that Bear Truss is going under.
pbmaxno15 wrote:I don't know if Northwest Energy (propane dealer between Breckenridge and Wheeler) still gets service, but they have a spur with a platform. Also, rumor around St. Louis is that Bear Truss is going under.
NWE discontinued rail service years ago and the rumor about BT has been around for several years. NWE used to receive 120-150 cars per year and BT a little more. BT was a distribution center for several lumber yards who have since gone out of business or receive lumber from another source.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
That is too bad about NWE. That facility isn't that old. The Bear Truss rumor has a little more truth to it this time as reports have employees cancelling medical procedures because insurance has been stripped. Only time will tell.
pbmaxno15 wrote:That is too bad about NWE. That facility isn't that old. The Bear Truss rumor has a little more truth to it this time as reports have employees cancelling medical procedures because insurance has been stripped. Only time will tell.
NWE received rail service when they were receiving their gas from a Canadian source. It was for a very short time...maybe a year or so.
Sorry to hear about BT...
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
I have a country ton of shots from around paines and west and east of there starting from 1984 to today, ill have to get my scanners up and running, This isn't the first time there has been a labor problem at bear truss.
penn central wrote:This isn't the first time there has been a labor problem at bear truss.
I get the impression all lumber yards live on the edge...
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
hobojim wrote:I just bought some 1x6 at Home Depot and it was labeled as coming from Sweden. I thought we grew enought lumber here to meet our needs.
Maybe it's just us, but I'll bet Home Depot buys the cheapest lumber they can find. I've heard that the lumber my company sells is supposed to have somewhere around 40% of the boards that aren't exactly perfect...maybe HD got a couple bunks cheap somewhere.
Northwest Energy stopped shipping by rail for three reasons. They think rail is to expensive, (in my opinion) they are not the best at managing inventory so they need the more time specific trucks, and they are getting most of their propane from the Port Huron area. I know the president of the Michigan Division of the company, I was trying to get them to set up a propane terminal in West Michigan when I worked for Marquette Rail. They really just need someone to work with them to find good rail options. The problem is that you will have to be VERy aggressive and it will take a lot of work to change their opinion about rail. They really have a bad taste towards rail unfortunately.
Mike H
Mike H wrote:Northwest Energy stopped shipping by rail for three reasons. They think rail is to expensive, (in my opinion) they are not the best at managing inventory so they need the more time specific trucks, and they are getting most of their propane from the Port Huron area. I know the president of the Michigan Division of the company, I was trying to get them to set up a propane terminal in West Michigan when I worked for Marquette Rail. They really just need someone to work with them to find good rail options. The problem is that you will have to be VERy aggressive and it will take a lot of work to change their opinion about rail. They really have a bad taste towards rail unfortunately.
Mike H
Great info, Mike. Could a rail haul from Port Huron to Breckenridge be cost and service competitive with trucks?
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
Probably not, it is a very short distance and there would be 3 different railroads involved in the move. If there was only one railroad and they had some creative pricing it could probably work, but a class 1 will want WAY to much money to move a hazmat even if it is a short distance. Two shortlines and it MIGHT work, but it is still somewhat of a long shot. The best bet would be to get them away from Prot Huron as a source and get it directly from Canada or Kansas which tend to be two of the main production locations.
Mike H
WHO ARE YOU ????????? SOME EX MI. GUY THAT MOVED AWAY AND NOW MISSES US ?????
IF WE WEREN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU AND YOU LEFT---WHY ARE YOU POSTING HERE ?????
YOU SHOULD MOVE BACK, OR AT LEAST VISIT, SO WE CAN DO THE BUUUUUURRRIIIIIITO AND BEERS THING AGAIN.!!!!
Mike H wrote:Probably not, it is a very short distance and there would be 3 different railroads involved in the move. If there was only one railroad and they had some creative pricing it could probably work, but a class 1 will want WAY to much money to move a hazmat even if it is a short distance. Two shortlines and it MIGHT work, but it is still somewhat of a long shot. The best bet would be to get them away from Prot Huron as a source and get it directly from Canada or Kansas which tend to be two of the main production locations.
Mike H
Thanks Mike. I was told they were getting it from Canada when they received rail service. When they shifted to Port Huron as the source is when they went to truck. I seem to recall someone saying it arrived in 6 car blocks.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
I only get up that way on weekends and have never seen MMRR running.
