Search found 43 matches

by PM1946
Fri Aug 28, 2020 8:19 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: C&M Grade Crossing Signals
Replies: 1
Views: 3208

C&M Grade Crossing Signals

The Coopersville & Marne has a new grade crossing at Walker Avenue just south of Three Mile in the City of Walker. There had been a bridge over the tracks which was removed and the roadway lowered to meet the tracks at grade. The artificial hill to accommodate the bridge had blocked the line of sigh...
by PM1946
Sun Sep 29, 2019 3:54 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: GRE Questions
Replies: 35
Views: 20056

GRE Questions

I'm curious about the Grand Rapids Eastern. I believe it has only two customers, Amway in Ada and King Milling in Lowell. (I'm not aware of any others.) My guess is that Amway receives raw materials by rail on a limited basis but does not ship out finished product by rail. As far as I know, the GRE ...
by PM1946
Fri Aug 09, 2019 8:33 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Wolverine to Toronto?
Replies: 52
Views: 25766

Wolverine to Toronto?

Let's see if this goes beyond the "nice idea" stage.
https://www.woodtv.com/news/national/am ... o-toronto/
by PM1946
Sun Mar 10, 2019 8:39 pm
Forum: Historical Q & A
Topic: Tracks/Spur on Eastern Grand River bank?
Replies: 9
Views: 9861

Re: Tracks/Spur on Eastern Grand River bank?

If I may add my $.02, the bridge at Riverside Park was originally part of a multiple span (looks like five spans in an old photo) 1903 steel truss bridge that carried North Park Avenue across the Grand River. Old and far too narrow, the bridge was replaced in 1989. One of the spans was floated downr...
by PM1946
Tue Feb 26, 2019 5:21 pm
Forum: Historical Q & A
Topic: Comstock Park Depot
Replies: 5
Views: 8330

Re: Comstock Park Depot

I read something about the depot about a year ago, and if memory serves (which can be a little fuzzy) I'll share with you what I recall and suspect. I believe there was just a singular depot. Whether it served the GR&I and/or the PM, I'm not sure. Sometime in the early 1950's it was moved north into...
by PM1946
Sun May 14, 2017 3:23 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Siemens SC-44 Chargers - Michigan Edition
Replies: 90
Views: 23385

Siemens Loco on Pere Marquette

A Siemens SC-44 Charger did a test run April 29th and 30th on Pere Marquette's route. If the info posted with the video is correct, MDOT (along with other states) purchased a bunch of these. Hopefully the Pure Michigan logo will be part of the paint scheme. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSJuMeM5Tso
by PM1946
Thu Sep 08, 2016 10:49 am
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Restore the Bridge Street Signal Tower
Replies: 34
Views: 9038

Re: Restore the Bridge Street Signal Tower

Any word or pics on how the restoration is coming? Judging from the pics of the structure when it was resting on a flatbed, it looked like it would be a time and $ intensive project.
by PM1946
Thu Jun 09, 2016 3:48 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Restore the Bridge Street Signal Tower
Replies: 34
Views: 9038

Re: Restore the Bridge Street Signal Tower

Step one of the restoration has begun. There are a couple of great historic pics in the article.
http://www.mlive.com/business/west-mich ... river_home
by PM1946
Mon May 30, 2016 5:24 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Drunk driver takes out Holland grade crossing signal
Replies: 4
Views: 1424

Drunk driver takes out Holland grade crossing signal

It would have been nice if M-Live had taken a pic of the damage, but this will have to do for now.
http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/ ... river_home
by PM1946
Sat May 28, 2016 7:28 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Coopersville & Marne Railway Questions
Replies: 30
Views: 8375

Re: Coopersville & Marne Railway Questions

A trip through Coopersville this afternoon revealed a unit of light yellow articulated gondolas parked just west of the engine house. I couldn't find any reporting marks, but they were lettered "Genzink Steel slot machine work platforms." They looked new; no graffiti nor road dirt. Anyone have any i...
by PM1946
Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:02 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: 24 Updates?
Replies: 9
Views: 2382

Re: 24 Updates?

Driving on Ann Street tonight revealed that #24 and the Kiamichi unit have been moved elsewhere. In their places are a bunch of track maintenance equipment.
by PM1946
Thu May 14, 2015 7:54 pm
Forum: National / Other States Talk
Topic: Amtrak train from D.C. crashes in Philly.
Replies: 65
Views: 23492

Re: Amtrak train from D.C. crashes in Philly.

Trains Magazine's frequent contributor Fred Frailey has some interesting thoughts.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/14/opinions/ ... index.html
by PM1946
Fri Mar 13, 2015 5:01 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: In memorandum RIP MM #24
Replies: 52
Views: 8820

Re: In memorandum RIP MM #24

As of last night when I drove by, it was outside again as it has been for the last several days.
by PM1946
Sat Mar 07, 2015 5:27 pm
Forum: Historical Q & A
Topic: RR Line on the west bank of the Grand River
Replies: 6
Views: 3471

Re: RR Line on the west bank of the Grand River

Thanks all for clearing up this mystery. This link should take you to images of the Rexall train. https://www.google.com/search?q=rexall+train&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&imgil=G28BtLeArLMA6M%253A%253BT9TtNM_adnoaQM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.themetrains.com%25252Frexall-train-main.htm&source=iu...
by PM1946
Sat Mar 07, 2015 10:38 am
Forum: Historical Q & A
Topic: RR Line on the west bank of the Grand River
Replies: 6
Views: 3471

RR Line on the west bank of the Grand River

Anyone have any idea of the line that ran on the immediate west bank of the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids? Note the southbound streamliner in the photo. It looks like it's where the Ford Presidential Museum is today. I would imagine these tracks were removed when the expressways came in. Inte...
by PM1946
Wed Mar 04, 2015 1:21 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: In memorandum RIP MM #24
Replies: 52
Views: 8820

Re: In memorandum RIP MM #24

When I drove by around noon today, I noticed that she's no longer standing guard outside of the engine house.
by PM1946
Wed Oct 29, 2014 11:43 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: New Grand Rapids Amtrak Station - Vern J Ehlers
Replies: 177
Views: 34369

Re: New Grand Rapids AMTK Station Construction Finally Under

The old GTW depot stood where the main post office stands today.
by PM1946
Sun Aug 10, 2014 9:45 pm
Forum: Historical Q & A
Topic: Code lines along Marquette Rail.
Replies: 7
Views: 3462

Code lines along Marquette Rail.

I’m curious about the remnants of poles that once supported code lines along what is now Marquette Rail from Comstock Park northward. I’m assuming that they probably date back to the days of Pere Marquette Railway. What were they used for? Communications perhaps. I don’t think the line was ever sign...
by PM1946
Tue Jul 22, 2014 5:38 pm
Forum: Historical Q & A
Topic: Any good historical books on railroads of Michigan?
Replies: 13
Views: 4317

Re: Any good historical books on railroads of Michigan?

"Evening Before The Diesel" by Charles R. Foss is a treasure trove of all things Grand Trunk Western. It's chock full of photos, timetables, and track diagrams. Since it was published around 1979 (I believe), it may be hard to locate a copy. It'll be worth the effort though.
by PM1946
Thu Feb 27, 2014 11:48 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Pere Marquette stuck in the snow
Replies: 20
Views: 2935

Pere Marquette stuck in the snow

Here's the story from WOOD TV-8....
http://woodtv.com/2014/02/27/amtrak-tra ... f-holland/