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3-3-11 caught GLC #385, #397,#398 and #399 departing Owosso, Mi. @ 11:32 AM with 34 cars heading north on the main. Also video taped him crossing Dewey and Mason Rd. The #398 and #399 were dead or idling in tow. The #398 has a nice set of flat spots on its wheels. Also got TSBY (GLC) #394 going north up the St. Charles Branch w/17 covered hoppers for Frutchey Grain in Oakley.

The 396 already blew up from what I'm told.

PennCentralPowell wrote:Also video taped him crossing Dewey and Mason Rd. The #398 and #399 were dead or idling in tow. The #398 has a nice set of flat spots on its wheels. Also got TSBY (GLC) #394 going north up the St. Charles Branch w/17 covered hoppers for Frutchey Grain in Oakley.

Please post your video. Thanks!

Flex plate on the #396 broke. Sounds like Paducah may be coming up to fix it.

Flex plate?

Flex plate is what I was told from the Mech Dept. I dont know diesels so I take his word on it.

As I remember (we're on shakey ground already) the flex plate is an interface between
the engine and the main generator. Much like the pressure plate between the engine
and transmission (part of the clutch assembly) in a standard shift car. It is torqued
somewhere between 1500 and 2000 ft. lbs.

If the unit arrived without the flex plate being properly tightened you can imagine the possible
damage.

If I were the RR, I would insist that the vendor do the disassembly under my watchful eye.

Thank you.

Why is it that the tracks aren't used up here ? And is the GLC going to rip the tracks from TC to Grawn?

Nighttrain404 wrote:Why is it that the tracks aren't used up here ? And is the GLC going to rip the tracks from TC to Grawn?

Tracks are still used to Williamsburg to switch the lumber yard in Bates.

Tracks to Grawn are not used because customer who received their product went to plastic containers (from glass). Grawn's plant is not equipped to make plastic containers. So customer went to another plant for their product.

I have not heard that tracks in Traverse City area will be removed. But it would not surprise me if they do. A car or two a week for 45-50 miles of track is very low.

If the tracks are removed from TC to grawn future trail development with T.A.R.T trails and possible more space for the development of another road.

Nighttrain404 wrote:If the tracks are removed from TC to grawn future trail development with T.A.R.T trails and possible more space for the development of another road.

Rail to Trails are nice if rail service can not survive. I enjoy riding my bike and jogging rail to trails. There is still some hisotirical stuff around to see.

Rails to Trails to Grawn? Only if you want to buy meth, weed, or dodge the drunks of Grawn. Grawn is the Flint of northern Michigan. And no need for another road- US31 is not over capacity in the ten miles between Grawn and TC (GLC pretty much runs along side within a few feet to a few miles all the way to TC in the river valley).

I doubt the tracks will be removed anytime soon. First, GLC can't remove what they don't own, and I doubt MDOT is thinking about this right now. More important things to worry about and plan for...

It would be nice scenery for people who enjoy trails, but also when i met another road. Meaning Between S. Airport to 8th street bypassing Cass St.

They are already workingon plans for that- Lake Avenue. Starting near 17th Street and going to 8th, along the GLC line. So line would not need to be removed (just the wye). That moves all the traffic off Cass from 17th to 8th, which is the most congested portion now. MDOT ir requiring the City to relocate the wye (thye won't allow the two additional grade crossings on the existing wye). The city has an option on property directly across from the TCAPS bus garage for a new wye.