Trackmobiles

GreatLakesRailfan · Sat Jun 21, 2008 12:41 am

cnw8835 wrote:
One of the elevators up in Pigeon (not the big one) has a modified tractor, as does the elevator in Imlay City (sorry, I know you weren't asking for those)...but does anyone know if the big elevator in Pigeon would have one?
Last I saw its just the tractor. I don't believe that Michigan Bean a bit farther north has one either. The bean plant just east of Elkton has a trackmobile though I do believe. They also use a tractor at the elevator in Colling.

I was referring to Michigan Bean, I think. Didn't know the big elevator had anything to move cars with. Saw the MB one once (from a distance)...looked like a big John Deere with a three-point-coupler...

leo28150 · Unread post by **leo28150** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 12:42 am

The Knappen flour mill in Augusta has one also...

GreatLakesRailfan · Sat Jun 21, 2008 12:57 am

A crappy shot of one of the units at the sugar plant in Bay City:

My full size shot reveals it is a TM 4150.

pudgy · Unread post by **pudgy** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:30 am

Last time I checked, there was one in Lake Odessa, but I'm not sure what the company is. On the North side of the track. I have a pic somewhere, but I just have to find it...

rob · Unread post by **rob** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 1:48 am

Twin City foods in lake o.

There is on at the elevator in weberville. the emd engine switches the grain elevator and the trackmobile switches the tracks that has the tank cars.

Rob

PSK at CH45.2 · Sat Jun 21, 2008 5:47 am

mikekmac: Anyone else have photos?

Check out the attached link. KC caught one of your "little ones" at the cement plant in Elmira.

http://members4.boardhost.com/OtherMich ... 46159.html

Unread post by **AARR** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 9:19 am

There is on at the elevator in weberville. the emd engine switches the grain elevator and the trackmobile switches the tracks that has the tank cars.

The track with the tanker cars is The Andersons Fertilizer Terminal. In addition to tankers of nitrogen they also get covered hoppers of dry fertilizer.

paperman · Unread post by **paperman** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 7:53 am

I'll post a few pics of the new Rail King switcher here at the PCA mill. I will also look for a few of what happens when you don't make enough room at a switch and try to pass a set of parked cars.

odave · Unread post by **odave** » Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:17 am

Not 100% sure, but CN has something a lot like that working around the car shops in Pontiac, visible just off Cass ave.

odave · Unread post by **odave** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 11:21 am

Got a closer look in Pontiac Yard - it does say "Trackmobile" on the side...

TrainWatcher · Unread post by **TrainWatcher** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:17 pm

Conrail Jon wrote:Thought of another one. Amway/Alticor in Ada on the GRE has atleast 1.

Yeah it was pictured in Dick DeVos' Gubernatiorial (I think that is spelled right) Commerical.....

ConrailDetroit · Tue Jun 24, 2008 8:14 pm

CN has one at East Yard in Detroit.

GrandTrunkFan · Wed Jun 25, 2008 10:45 am

Yea Twin City Foods has a trackmobile. All the times Ive been out there, I have never seen it in use, but it does get used. Also, the ethanol plant in Woodbury has one, although it is red not orange/yellow.

Edit: I went to Lake O today and apparently the increased business at the elevator has made them get a Trackmobile too. It looks to be quite old. They are now unloading seed from hoppers with a new conveyer beside the mail elevator.

csxt4617 · Unread post by **csxt4617** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:08 pm

It's not in Michigan, but it's close. The NIPSCO power plant at Michigan City IN has a trackmobile. It's a model 4500, and used to switch the empties out of the car dumper (they have some goofy kitbashed engine to shove the loads in...switcher frame, cat engine, EMD cab/nose) Got to see it in action last Saturday during a tour of the plant

CERY · Unread post by **CERY** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:33 pm

There is one in Woodbury at the Ethanol plant.

tsinoms · Unread post by **tsinoms** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:38 pm

csxt4617 wrote:It's not in Michigan, but it's close. The NIPSCO power plant at Michigan City IN has a trackmobile. It's a model 4500, and used to switch the empties out of the car dumper (they have some goofy kitbashed engine to shove the loads in...switcher frame, cat engine, EMD cab/nose) Got to see it in action last Saturday during a tour of the plant

Lucky!

mikekmac · Unread post by **mikekmac** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:21 pm

rob wrote:Twin City foods in lake o.

There is on at the elevator in weberville. the emd engine switches the grain elevator and the trackmobile switches the tracks that has the tank cars.

Rob

Really. I've never seen it. I wonder if ADM has a PAO...

mikekmac · Unread post by **mikekmac** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:29 pm

PSK at CH45.2 wrote:
mikekmac: Anyone else have photos?
Check out the attached link. KC caught one of your "little ones" at the cement plant in Elmira.

http://members4.boardhost.com/OtherMich ... 46159.html

Oh, great pics, thanks. That could be a 5TM. There are at least a few still in service, as in the second photo on this page:

http://www.trackmobile.com/industryfocuscement.htm

Raildudes dad · Thu Jul 03, 2008 10:07 pm

Padnos Turner Street yard in GR has a "new to them" trackmobile. They also have a red GE. Not sure if it's the old one repainted or a "new" one.

GreatLakesRailfan · Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:22 pm

The big elevator in Breckenridge has one. They keep it in a building across the street from the elevator. Saw it today, but couldn't get a shot (they were driving it into the garage).

Also, the big elevator in Hemlock appears to have one as well.

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Trackmobiles