Up North

[Doktor No]

Took a trip to Odawa on Petoskey for the eving yesterday afternoon. Going up Business 131 through Cadillac there was nothing to be seen except the TSBY plow, one Chitown Commuter car and the derilict boxcar on the enginehouse lead at North Yard. Other then that...nothing going north nor anything coming south today to Rockford. There were 8 or so covered plastic bead hoppers in Petoskey, three tanks in Kalkaska but no horns or headlights.
Took US31 south from Petoskey too by the way to Acme. Saw the C&O right of way from time to time along the way. Tracks behing Turtle Creek casino were quiet.
WIfe cleaned up at Odawa and Turtle Creek. Me, not so much. I did roll a 386$ winner at Turtle Creek but seeins how it was her money SHE actually won it...SIGH! She hit a $400 roll on Wheel of Fortune. It pays to play in the high roller room...but you have to win. She does, I don't. You can make a hundred dollar bill dissappear rather rapidly you can...

[KC]

Took a trip to Odawa on Petoskey for the eving yesterday afternoon. Going up Business 131 through Cadillac there was nothing to be seen except the TSBY plow, one Chitown Commuter car and the derilict boxcar on the enginehouse lead at North Yard. Other then that...nothing going north nor anything coming south today to Rockford. There were 8 or so covered plastic bead hoppers in Petoskey, three tanks in Kalkaska but no horns or headlights.
Took US31 south from Petoskey too by the way to Acme. Saw the C&O right of way from time to time along the way. Tracks behing Turtle Creek casino were quiet.
WIfe cleaned up at Odawa and Turtle Creek. Me, not so much. I did roll a 386$ winner at Turtle Creek but seeins how it was her money SHE actually won it...SIGH! She hit a $400 roll on Wheel of Fortune. It pays to play in the high roller room...but you have to win. She does, I don't. You can make a hundred dollar bill dissappear rather rapidly you can...

yep, that's railfanning in northern michigan, depressing isn't it.

sounds like retirement is going well for you sir Doktor!

Kelly

[Doktor No]

It is Kelly, it is. Now that both of us are getting railroad retirement we shall begin wandering the byways and snooping where I havn't had the chance before. I had never went down towards the lower PRR part of Petoskey before. A few tracks are left, even some of the old targets are still on the switch stands. Passed Michigan Maple Block, the hardwood floor maker hard by the plastic unloader op. I remember a PC story about when they shipped a floor out west, PC had embargoed north of town so they sent the car to GR, then towards Detroit somehow, then north on the Mackinaw Branch and across the straits on the ferry. Took weeks to just go from Petoskey to Mackinac City. I think the routing guy now has a job with CSX by the way.
Wandering off.

[~Z~]

WIfe cleaned up at Odawa and Turtle Creek. Me, not so much. I did roll a 386$ winner at Turtle Creek but seeins how it was her money SHE actually won it...SIGH! She hit a $400 roll on Wheel of Fortune. It pays to play in the high roller room...but you have to win. She does, I don't. You can make a hundred dollar bill dissappear rather rapidly you can...

Last year, wife and I stayed in Petoskey for the night. On the way out of town, 8am, stopped at Odawa casino.. told wifey i just wanted to put a $20 in wheel of fortune there. Place was dead... Slot was in the far back corner... walked straight there, put $20 in, got a payout on the first pull to $46. Did a few more spins, got to $40 even, and cashed out. Took my $40 and were back in the car within 10 minutes Headed south to Boyne City, around the bottom of Lake Charlevoix, took the chain ferry at Ironton (neat ride), then ate at Dockside Torch Lake... stopped in Alden at the train depot where they happened to have an open house with the model train layouts running.

[Raildudes dad]

Ironton Ferry is on 2 big cables, not chains

[James Sofonia]

Ironton Ferry is on 2 big cables, not chains

That is correct, adding to that the ferry is self propelled, the cables guide it across with out having to deal with the cross current.
Last year a vehicle on board caught fire and damaged the ferry. They got it repaired over the winter and back in service just last week after a Coast Guard inspection.

[hoborich]

You missed a day of railfanning in Roscommon.

[AARR]

The gas plant south of Kalkaska is not visible from the main road. If you know where to look you can meander just short of the ROW and see a bunch of tank cars on the spurs.

Elmira is supposed to get lots of cement again end of may first of June. Hope the people are right about this.

[Doktor No]

I've had enough trouble with gas cars AARR....I tend to leave anything along those lines...if you will, alone. I know where the gas plant is. There is a road that leads back to the site but I ain't going there. "Security! Security! Aliens have encrouched upon the boundry perimiter!" No sir, don't need it.
As for Elmira? Didn't wander over that way. Maybe next casino royale trip sometime next month I shall.