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I brought this topic to the attention of Jim Winslow, prominant local GR&I/PRR historian. Here are segments of two emails from him: "The PK track, or PK "switch" as it was also sometimes called, was a contraction of the name Plaster Creek, taking first and last letters "PK". Originally, the GR&I wan...

Check out the September 1999 issue of Railfan magazine for my picture of Hughart yard and northbound freight ELGR on the last weekend of Conrail's control of the line, taken May 29, 1999. NS took over on June 1.

You are correct. The PRR/PC ran all their freights through the site of Union Station, curved immediately west and crossed the river on what is now the pedestrian bridge (near the BOB), then up the West Side. This lasted until the final days of the Michigan Northern. When the MN expired, the PC on th...

The website says the excursions will run to Alma and back. Do they turn the engine/train, and, if so, where?

GER northbound is GDLK302 with 4124-4125 and six cars. Cleared Wayland at 5:30, Karl (84th St) at 6:30. Ten miles an hour is really true. I got pix at Moline; both SD40s have the "Grand Elk" logo on their flanks.

The only thing the present bus station location has for it is that it's convenient to Van Andel Arena. Politics is the reason it's where it is. Years ago, a voice in the wilderness suggested putting the station on the near-west side at Pearl St or just north of Pearl St next to the existing tracks (...

GDLJ503 just arrived in GR (Burton), light power movement. I'm not certain of the symbol letters--"503" is correct, however. Three NS units led the way: 3045-5522-3023 (GP40/38/40), then WAMX 4125-4124-4002-4020-3806 (SD40/SD40/GP40-2LW/GP40-2LW/GP38). All the WAMX locos looked pretty good in blue/y...

I saw 511-505 go light eastbound through Porter, IN, late Tuesday afternoon. Wondered what that was.

The the north end of Grand Elk today is all-NS power. This morning's southbound "37E" or whatever they call it now had NS 9323-9934 coming through Cutlerville (MP 93) at about 7:40am. This afternoon, Hughart yard in Grand Rapids had NS 5555 switching, no other power visible.

If your "time" is spent at the airport, forget the trains. The new Denver Inconvenient airport is 20 miles from town. But if you're downtown and have a car, check out Union Station at 17th and Wynkoop, just north of downtown. If Amtrak is on time, w/b Zephyr leaves about 8am, e/b early evening; unle...

For their twice-weekly Sault Ste Marie - Hearst train, Algoma Central has two new (to them) stainless-steel coaches #5654 and 5655 along with material-handling car #79. Can anyone fill in the heritage of these cars?

Today's Q-326 -- oops, QUALITY-326 (sorry) had CSX 8769 as second unit leaving Grand Rapids.

Actually, I mean Sunday/Monday's P370, since it didn't arrive in Grand Rapids until Monday morning. Does anyone know the real reason(s) for the delays (besides the "official" vague explaination)? Also, can anyone explain why they pulled away from Holland station at 5:19 AM if the crew knew they woul...

I wonder if they've considered that GM plans to close their Wyoming Plant (old Fisher Body Plant) at 36th and Bucanan sometime next year. Most of the times I've seen 36E (Elkhart to GR), the majority of cars are high-cube box cars for auto parts. Seems like that plant is most of the Grand Elk's busi...

Just returned home from checking out the Algoma Central between Sault Ste Marie and Searchmont (MP32). Tour train runs 13 cars plus 2 diners; Saturday had the "Agawa" private car, Sunday's down train had their Wilderness Adventure caboose tacked on the rear. Their equipment is getting tired; saw onl...

Don Simon wrote:GLC = ex-TSBY

Of course;
Of course, GLC=Great Lakes Central. I should have known that. You have to talk differently to us old guys. If you had said: Ex AA plus ex PRR Cadillac to Petoskey, I would have immediately recognized it. KJN

Where is GLC? KJN

Thank you. For all the time I spend at the Oval, I've never seen either of these units. KJN

J T wrote:According to Jon, CSXT 1301 is going out on 326 today. Should be leaving GR shortly.

OK, Jon, I'll bite. What is CSXT 1301?