Search found 331 matches

by dmitzel
Mon May 15, 2023 6:17 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: What is the requirement of working on the rail road
Replies: 27
Views: 7728

Re: What is the requirement of working on the rail road

Also need to pass a DOT drug test, and stay clean. Just because it’s legal at the state level doesn’t mean the Feds are on board.
by dmitzel
Fri Dec 24, 2021 8:27 am
Forum: Chit Chat Babble Room
Topic: Big Rock Chophouse (former GTW Birmingham, Mich depot) to close in December
Replies: 2
Views: 10889

Re: Big Rock Chophouse (former GTW Birmingham, Mich depot) to close in December

Hopefully the developer will reopen with just a name change. I liked going there for a couple beers and maybe a meal while railfanning in the area.
by dmitzel
Fri Dec 24, 2021 8:20 am
Forum: Model Railroading
Topic: Motown Models GTW GP9R December update
Replies: 11
Views: 12156

Re: Motown Models GTW GP9R December update

Lots of us gripe about our stuff not being made in America, so here is an example of what we’d be paying to have our models built here in the good-ole USA vs. the ChiComs.
by dmitzel
Thu Dec 16, 2021 11:57 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: 3 AML incidents this week 12/10-12/16/21
Replies: 13
Views: 7370

Re: 3 AML incidents this week 12/10-12/16/21

Time for OLS to start a campaign on campus.
by dmitzel
Mon Dec 13, 2021 9:48 am
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: CN Lake Orion Sub - The end finally???
Replies: 279
Views: 244622

Re: CN Lake Orion Sub - The end finally???

Saw this article today - possible $3B as in ‘billions’ investment by GM being considered for the Orion plant for electric pickup production. Wondering if the volumes being projected would be sufficient to warrant reactivating the branch. https://insideevs.com/news/553881/rumor-gm-3billion-projects-m...
by dmitzel
Mon May 03, 2021 8:20 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: CN Flint Sub Defect Detectors Still Talking?
Replies: 7
Views: 8906

Re: CN Flint Sub Defect Detectors Still Talking?

I don’t hear the one west of Lapeer anymore either. With the signals at CN East Lapeer only alerting westbounds it’s hard to know when an eastbound is coming from Flint.

Dan in Oxford
by dmitzel
Sun Sep 27, 2020 11:15 am
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Spartan Motors in Charlotte
Replies: 14
Views: 8597

Re: Spartan Motors in Charlotte

A million dollars to install a mainline switch with PTC. This doesn’t include the customer-owned siding track and dock.

This is why you’ll rarely see a new, Class 1 rail-served industry outside those that ship unit-trains.
by dmitzel
Fri Jul 24, 2020 9:16 am
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: GLC Acquiring SD35's?
Replies: 42
Views: 29473

Re: GLC Acquiring SD35's?

In Minneapolis yesterday - headed to BRC’s Clearing Yard for interchange to CN.
by dmitzel
Sun Jan 19, 2020 7:38 pm
Forum: Historical Q & A
Topic: Bluewater Excursions over the years
Replies: 3
Views: 6450

Re: Bluewater Excursions over the years

I grew up E. of Rochester along the old GTW Romeo Sub, and took a few Bluewater trips in the early '80s. My first was a Royal Oak-Birmingham-Pontiac trip to Durand and then on the GTW Saginaw Sub all the way to Bay City and return. The trip used Semta commuter coaches - the Pontiac-Detroit commuter ...
by dmitzel
Fri Jan 10, 2020 7:14 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: More Wolverine Chargers
Replies: 12
Views: 7994

Re: More Wolverine Chargers

Manistique wrote:At some point they named all the trains Wolverines. Before each train had a name: Wolverine, Saint Clair and Twilight Limited (I think).
The middle train was The Lake Cities, which I thought was odd as that name was from a discontinued Erie-Lackawanna train from Chicago-Hoboken.
by dmitzel
Mon Jul 29, 2019 9:59 am
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Hope for CN’s Orion spur?
Replies: 8
Views: 7289

Hope for CN’s Orion spur?

Not sure if this could mean auto racks on the old PO&N but one can hope.

https://www.rtands.com/freight/canadian ... artnership
by dmitzel
Thu Nov 22, 2018 12:09 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Grain Train derailment
Replies: 7
Views: 7257

Re: Grain Train derailment

They didn’t sell Brightline, only a minority interest - which includes assuming the Virgin Trains branding. Fortress and current railroad management remains in charge.
by dmitzel
Mon Nov 19, 2018 8:58 am
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Grain Train derailment
Replies: 7
Views: 7257

Re: Grain Train derailment

To see the future of passenger rail in the U.S. look at what Brightline in Florida is doing, now soon to be rebranded as Virgin Trains USA, and also Texas Central between Dallas and Houston. This stuff will happen, slowly, where the economics make sense. Brightline is also branching out beyond Flori...
by dmitzel
Thu Nov 01, 2018 1:40 pm
Forum: Paper Railroads
Topic: Detroit, Mackinaw and Marquette Railroad Co.
Replies: 10
Views: 17286

Re: Detroit, Mackinaw and Marquette Railroad Co.

All the research and field visits to the former NYC trackage in and around the Tri-cities has paid off... 13'x27' trackplan complete, benchwork up and Homasote subroadbed down. https://www.nmra.org/sites/default/files/styles/extra_large/public/layout/dmitzel_v3_0.jpg?itok=dI_zpz5d For those that are...
by dmitzel
Thu Nov 01, 2018 1:29 pm
Forum: Model Railroading
Topic: Did I miss this announcement? if not.. MARQUETTE SD40-2's
Replies: 4
Views: 10159

Re: Did I miss this announcement? if not.. MARQUETTE SD40-2

The correct Bowser GMD ex-CP SD40-2 units for HESR's pair are getting closer to reality...

http://www.bowser-trains.com/new/sd4022018.html

Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
by dmitzel
Mon Dec 04, 2017 11:05 pm
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Propsed Steel manufacturing in/near Durand
Replies: 46
Views: 16669

Re: Propsed Steel manufacturing in/near Durand

http://www.autonews.com/article/20171204/OEM10/171209904/ohio-firm-eyes-major-steel-plant-in-michigan-to-serve-automakers "In a meeting last week in Washington, New Steel representatives portrayed the Durand project as a state-of-the-art steel plant that would use clean coal-burning technology to m...
by dmitzel
Wed Jul 19, 2017 1:09 pm
Forum: Model Railroading
Topic: OP Session
Replies: 8
Views: 10887

Re: OP Session

fmilhaupt wrote:A couple of us came up from SE Michigan to take part in this operating session, yesterday....
That's some great modeling! Will have to visit during the NCR Fall Convention, and maybe partake in some Ops if offered.
by dmitzel
Fri Jun 30, 2017 11:24 am
Forum: Michigan Talk
Topic: Business on the AMTK Michigan Line
Replies: 4
Views: 2938

Re: Business on the AMTK Michigan Line

>> -Main #2 ballast extends now to just West of the Station at Ann Arbor.

Really?! the Michigan Line is going back to two main tracks all the way through A.A. like during the NYC-PC-early CR days? I thought they were going to stop the double-track in Ypsi?

This is really cool if true.
by dmitzel
Thu May 18, 2017 12:51 pm
Forum: Indiana Talk
Topic: New Control Points on the Indy Line Taking Shape
Replies: 6
Views: 6994

Re: New Control Points on the Indy Line Taking Shape

I've been watching the C&S contractors work at CP IU in downtown Indy for weeks now... nice as the work zone has most trains creeping through the plant so easy 'fanning from the Cummins building here on Market Street, especially from the 8th floor.
by dmitzel
Sun May 14, 2017 11:58 am
Forum: Chit Chat Babble Room
Topic: Not sure where to put this.......
Replies: 4
Views: 4858

Re: Not sure where to put this.......

Bummer... hopefully they'll release his name - we're a small hobby so someone on the board may know him.