GLC Traverse City/Williamsburg District Heads Up!

[BerkshireKid]

Word has it that someone bought the location at Bates and has a car to take up that way in the near future. If I hear more i'll be sure to update.

[SD80MAC]

I spent a lot of time riding along the TART Trail in TC last week and was sad to see all the rust on the railhead. Also saw that some SOB's graffitied the nice restored Ann Arbor caboose and boxcar down near the TC depot, what a shame. Went to Turtle Creek Casino and never really noticed that the tracks are RIGHT next to that place, GLC needs to run some Casino trains! What's in Williamsburg that justified keeping that line intact all the way up there? And where is Bates?

[BerkshireKid]

There is still a run around track in Williamsburg for the trains to run around their cars after switching Bates which is the lumber yard at the crossing on M72 right down the road from the casino.

The track up to the casino is "Excepted Track" which prohibits any passenger movements over the line.

[AARR]

Thanks for the update DR. Today, lumber...tomorrow plastic bottles of juice from Grawn

[TCBrent]

Bates is the "town" where the lumberyard is, it's just west of Williamsburg on M-72. Hope this pans out because its been far too long since I've seen a train up here. (besides the mini one at the old zoo haha). Also, that passenger train is coming up on the 22nd...
-TC Brent

[Rick in TC]

Follow link to see seller agreement for new owner.

http://www.northpacific.com/Real%20Esta ... atures.pdf

[chapmaja]

Problem with the paperwork.

In the description of the property, it lists part of the boundry as the right of way of the C&O. I'm pretty sure C&O doesn't own the ROW anymore.

[SD80MAC]

Problem with the paperwork.

In the description of the property, it lists part of the boundry as the right of way of the C&O. I'm pretty sure C&O doesn't own the ROW anymore.

That's funny. My dad used to own some property that bordered the CSX Plymouth sub in Grand Rapids a few years back. In the paperwork for the land, it listed the tracks as "C&O Right Of Way".

[Raildudes dad]

Problem with the paperwork.

In the description of the property, it lists part of the boundry as the right of way of the C&O. I'm pretty sure C&O doesn't own the ROW anymore.

That's funny. My dad used to own some property that bordered the CSX Plymouth sub in Grand Rapids a few years back. In the paperwork for the land, it listed the tracks as "C&O Right Of Way".

It is very common for property descriptions to list the name of the railroad when the parcel was created from a parent pacel. There are number of descriptions in Ottawa & Kent Counties with the GR & I in the description (I'm reading some for one of my current projects). The former RR name causes absolutely no problem in the property transfers.

[TC John]

Okay, did anyone notice the winning bidder (Marshview Properties) picked up whole place for only $562,500?? that was a hell of a bargin for that property, building, rail siding, etc. Note that they started leasing it between the end of June and the July closing date at $5,000 per month, and the stipulation that the property can ONLY BE USED as a lumber yard (during the lease before the final sale). I googles Marshview Properties and can find nothing on them. The address in WI comes to a private individual. So, not sure who they are (established lumber company, or just someone hoping to make it as a start-up company)? And will they become a good rail customer? If so, then Don will point out that I was wrong in saying the TC branch was done! DR, keep us in the loop if you hear of this carload coming up to TC!

Oh, Rick in TC- do you EVER check your email????

[AARR]

And will they become a good rail customer? If so, then Don will point out that I was wrong in saying the TC branch was done!

I don't think this site will see 2-5 cars per week like in the 1990's but it was receiving 3-6 per month before closing so we'll see what happens.

[FireCaptain 1214]

While in Owosso this morning I did see a carload of lumber waiting to go north this morning,if that helps.

[AARR]

While in Owosso this morning I did see a carload of lumber waiting to go north this morning,if that helps.

Unless things have changed GLC also delivers lumber to Alma (interchange with MMRR) and Clare.

[TC John]

Doing a little research myself, I found the new owner: Amerhart Lumber & Building Materials. They bought Lumberman’s years ago also.

http://www.amerhart.com/amerhart/about+ ... efault.asp

I checked all locations on Bing Maps. They ALL have rail access, and ALL had rail cars on site (center beams and box cars), except one location was still under construction on Bing (though right on a rail line). Of all, the Williamsburg location was as big or bigger than the others, and the others had at least 2 cars, one had three, and one had FIVE cars being unloaded. So, let’s hope this becomes a several car per week customer! There are no other lumber distributers in the TC area- only retail stores, so they might just do good!

[AARR]

Doing a little research myself, I found the new owner: Amerhart Lumber & Building Materials. They bought Lumberman’s years ago also.

http://www.amerhart.com/amerhart/about+ ... efault.asp

I checked all locations on Bing Maps. They ALL have rail access, and ALL had rail cars on site (center beams and box cars), except one location was still under construction on Bing (though right on a rail line). Of all, the Williamsburg location was as big or bigger than the others, and the others had at least 2 cars, one had three, and one had FIVE cars being unloaded. So, let’s hope this becomes a several car per week customer! There are no other lumber distributers in the TC area- only retail stores, so they might just do good!

And as far as I know the place in Gaylord remains closed so perhaps they'll have greater market share opportunity.

[i995impalass]

In the description of the property, it lists part of the boundry as the right of way of the C&O. I'm pretty sure C&O doesn't own the ROW anymore

Good chance CSX still owns the property. Other than our line CSX has a bunch of property around Baldwin and they still own, and CSX still has property to the boat slips in Ludington.

[Rick in TC]

All I know is keep your eyes peeled today...

[TCBrent]

Train is in town on Williamsburg Branch!!!

-TC Brent

[TC John]

Centerbeam? I saw fresh flange marks across Woodmere- amazing how much sand was packed in there being the first train across there since November on 2010!

[AARR]

There's a company called Church's Lumber that used to have quite a few locations around Detroit years ago. They now have one location in Auburn Hills on the former GTW Romeo Sub.

When they had multiple locations they had a TV commercial that said they received "train loads" of lumber so they could give lower prices.

Well, their smaller lumber yards would receive a car every week or less and their main distribution center, the lumber yard in Auburn Hills, would get switched a couple times a week with a couple cars per switch.

The commercial made me chuckle because they wanted to give the impression they receive a train full of lumber when in reality if you added all the cars they received at all their locations it may have been around 10 a week. Not bad business...but not a full trains worth either

Keep us posted about the center beam guys. Thanks.