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Benton Harbor Yard is being removed so Graham St. can be extended to Riverview Dr., making another way to get between Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, and make it easier to get to the Harbor Shores golf course.
Pretty sad to see the 100 year old yard go.

http://heraldpalladium.com/articles/201 ... 401376.txt

A year or two ago I saw a planning sign at the end of Graham that showed a pedestrian bridge over the tracks in about the very spot where Graham will be extended down to Edgewater. I guess that won't be necessary now.

The main line still runs through Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, and CSX can build spurs to meet customer demand, such as the spur serving the Elisha Gray Enterprise Park at Benton Harbor's northern edge.

That spur looks like it hasn't been used in decades.

J T wrote:

The main line still runs through Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, and CSX can build spurs to meet customer demand, such as the spur serving the Elisha Gray Enterprise Park at Benton Harbor's northern edge.

That spur looks like it hasn't been used in decades.

Do you mean the one that crosses Paw Paw Avenue and follows Enterprise Way?
The spur was built way back in the late 20th century around 1997 when Nuwave paper was built out there. When they closed the spur was abandoned after only a few years of use. I would say it hasn't been used for about 5 years. I don't know the exact dates of it actually opening and closing, but it was not there for very long.
D700 used to serve it when they were based out of Benton Harbor.

Sorry for dragging this up, but I need to know what exactly is left of the old yard. Is EVERYTHING gone, leaving just the 2 mains between the Paw Paw river and 5th street/ North Shore Drive/ Graham St?

MQT3001 wrote:Sorry for dragging this up, but I need to know what exactly is left of the old yard. Is EVERYTHING gone, leaving just the 2 mains between the Paw Paw river and 5th street/ North Shore Drive/ Graham St?

Should be just the two mains IIRC.

tsinoms wrote:

MQT3001 wrote:Sorry for dragging this up, but I need to know what exactly is left of the old yard. Is EVERYTHING gone, leaving just the 2 mains between the Paw Paw river and 5th street/ North Shore Drive/ Graham St?

Should be just the two mains IIRC.

Cool. I'll note it in my TT

Jochs wrote:

J T wrote:

The main line still runs through Benton Harbor and St. Joseph, and CSX can build spurs to meet customer demand, such as the spur serving the Elisha Gray Enterprise Park at Benton Harbor's northern edge.

That spur looks like it hasn't been used in decades.

Do you mean the one that crosses Paw Paw Avenue and follows Enterprise Way?
The spur was built way back in the late 20th century around 1997 when Nuwave paper was built out there. When they closed the spur was abandoned after only a few years of use. I would say it hasn't been used for about 5 years. I don't know the exact dates of it actually opening and closing, but it was not there for very long.

It appears I missed your reply last year, Jeff. Yeah, that spur looked like it had been neglected longer than you're saying it was. I guess it just didn't age well with neglect.

Everything that was cool now sucks! I'm finding another hobby.

What yard has replaced the Benton Harbor yard? Is there still a geep based out of Benton Harbor?

tadman wrote:What yard has replaced the Benton Harbor yard? Is there still a geep based out of Benton Harbor?

Everything is based out of Wyoming Yard in Grand Rapids now. D700 heads south Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays to work whats left of the customers the old BH crews used to. They work weekends from time to time as well.

Although, there is still a yard crew for Holland.

Sorry it has taken so long to post. I have been busy and haven't been on here in a while. As of about noon today, which is the last time I drove through the Benton Harbor yard area, there are two mains intact. There is also a siding which was mostly taken up but recently began to be re-laid on the North side of the mains. The rails had been \removed and ties had been placed as of several weeks ago, but a small green piece of MOW equipment arrived on a semi and spent a week or so on the siding. Now the rails are back on the ties and the ties are properly spaced. The little green machine has since disappeared. The siding is connected to a main just east of the new crossing.

The grey building which I believe is used by the signal department (old freight station?) is still standing. There is a signal mast laying near it along with other material. There is also a John Deere payloader marke CSX sitting next to it.

Let me know if anyone wants any further surveying done of the area. I live nearby and drive the area several times per week.
-Mike