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Did my equipment arrive? im coming tomorrow on my OCS.

ES44AH wrote:Did my equipment arrive? im coming tomorrow on my OCS.

Yes it did. It is all set up and ready for opening to Employees tomorrow.

OCS is coming via the CIL, just like everything else, right? In that case, you'll have W-BUFGRR-30.

HPR's OCS is currently arriving in Barr Yard. Looks like CSX is putting them on one of their departure tracks, and I-CHIGRR will be set in behind them, so they will have to run late behind the OCS. .

WCHIGRR-30: HPR OCS. Called 8:00
ICHIGRR-30-30: Intermodal. Called 8:00. Will follow right behind HPR train and hope to make GRR on-time despite a 2-hour late departure. Trains will already be airtested thanks to 3 SD40-2s layed over in CHI due to a Grain Extra yesterday. Fire up and go!

MQT3001 wrote:

ES44AH wrote:Did my equipment arrive? im coming tomorrow on my OCS.

Yes it did. It is all set up and ready for opening to Employees tomorrow.

OCS is coming via the CIL, just like everything else, right? In that case, you'll have W-BUFGRR-30.

Roger. Here is our OCS consist:
EA: #51
EA: #52
3x Coaches: Frederick, Washington, Montgomery.
2x diners: Baltimore, Anne Arundel.
Sleeper: Queen Annes.
Observation/Lounge: Annapolis.

13:27 EDT:

WBUFGRR-01: Holland, MI. Lined through to Wyoming Yard. Rolling meet with L-GRRHOL-01 at Hudsonville

Forgot to mention, transfer trains will go between Wyoming Yard and Hughart Yard one hour before and 30 minutes after each PC excursion for guests wishing to go to both.

From Chessie System: On the 3rd, we are taking both 2101 and GM50 back to Baltimore for the 4th of July.

From M&N: We are sendin our 1840's rolling stock back to Baltimore wednesday night, for our Independence day celebration. All is welcome, but there is limited space in Mt.Clare Yard. If you want to come, track space is first come, first served. More info is on the M&N thread.

Sorry guys, been really busy, and that ends up with the lack of details. Looks like I won't be able to post the remaining schedule, but it will be able to be used for next year

Anyway, news from today, the 1223 had a successful run up to Baldwin with 18 packed excursion cars trailing. Several transfer trains over to the PC were packed as well.

@ES44AH: Shocked you waited until the festival was in-progress to alert us you were pulling exhibits in the middle of the thing. A very furious coordinator would like to have a word with you! They'd like to keep the stuff or see a nice check to pay for other exhibits that are being shipped in now to replace them. Thankfully other museums have been able to make up for the equipment, well at least most of it.

Did the HPR train make it alright? And tomorrows the day, looking forward to it.

FWRHS wants to know what day the 765 is going to be used during the festival

conrailman75 wrote:FWRHS wants to know what day the 765 is going to be used during the festival

Ahh yes. I forgot to at least mention that. In addition to the 4th mentioned below, 765 will run tender-to-tender with 1225 north to Ludington on the 5th. 765 will lead north, 1225 south. Gonna be the best train of the festival. We have a SW9 that will pull one coach with the rear platform ahead of the steam from GR to Newaygo and the return for people to take photos of her from ahead. Will run far enough ahead it doesn't spoil many shots.

Tomorrow is full of excursions in each direction, 11am departures:
- 1225: Ludington
- 765: Plymouth
- 1223: New Buffalo

All will head there then turn and head back. Won't be too hard to fit them in on the mainline since a lot of trains won't run anyway. Only a few CP trains, the intermodal, and one manifest in each direction on the GR & PLY subs, no Baldwin sub train. Anyway, the trains will return to Wyoming and pull up to the table (3 non-stub tracks lead to it, perfect!), passengers will detrain. All guests will have tickets for a huge BBQ with just about everything, then speeches from some of the groups represented, then some MQT stuff, and finally some announcements from local leaders. Stage will come down, and the fireworks will go up! Nighttime photo shoot to polish it all off.

I was wondering if I could make a last minute arrangement for the HPR train to be included in the night photo shoot...

legostudios34 wrote:I was wondering if I could make a last minute arrangement for the HPR train to be included in the night photo shoot...

It already was. All outdoor equipment is going to be open for the nighttime shoot. 1223 & 1225 are going to be positioned so fireworks can be seen in the background from the Grand Rapids Show. Some of the other stuff might be able to squeeze some of our show in, but most people will probably just want to watch the show first

Thanks to all for making the first GR Steamfest a great sucess! Nearly a million people visited Wyoming Yard for the event, with over 20,000 booking excursions on the MQT and PC. The event made a profit of $76,000, all of it will go to the Marquette Rail Historical Society, much of it will go to paying off the roundhouse restoration, a process that will take about 8 years. Other funds will pay off the 1223's restoration, and the building of #3, a 4-4-0 the surprised guests and emplyoees alike when unveiled at the 4th's ceremony. The locomotive was built in secret at MNTC's shops, and shipped to Wyoming Yard with a disguising boxcar shell, which was removed and the unit was placed under a tent. #3 will join the 1223 and 1225 and pull excursions and such for years to come.

At the 4th's Ceremony before the fireworks, it was announced by the Governor of the State of Michigan and the Mayors of Grand Rapids and Detroit that starting September 1st, two new passenger trains will connect Grand Rapids and Detroit: Pere Marquettes no. 374 & 375. No. 374 will depart Grand Rapids at 7am on Weekdays, 8am on Weekends, and will feature stops at GR Airport*, Lake Odessa*, Grand Ledge*, Lansing, Fowlerville*, Howell, Plymouth and Detroit. The reverse will occur as train 375, which will depart Detroit at 6pm daily. Stations with a "*" will be flag stops. The trains will run with MQT equipment, with all operating losses covered by MDOT. These trains will complement No. 370-373, which already run between Grand Rapids and Chicago.

Also announced: Pere Marquette 1223 and 1225 (either will run) will power trains #371 then #372 on three days: before, of and after Thanksgiving. The same will hold true for Christmas, but all four trains will run with 1223 or 1225, so train lovers mark your calendars. Also, MQT is lining up Polar Express Trains from both Plymouth and GR to run to AnnPere then up to Mackinac in the weeks before Christmas. We will be working on that in the months to come.

Also announced is Steamfest will return next year for the same week in July. MQT Historical Society is beginning to line up next year's special exibits, but most equipment will be called up in Janurary, so look for a thread then.

The HPR train left GR Saturday afternoon if you were wondering about that.

legostudios34 wrote:The HPR train left GR Saturday afternoon if you were wondering about that.

Yep, it left MQT's hands as WGRRCHI-06, and arrived in Barr yard at 18:46 EDT.

All foreign steamfest equipment is now off MQT rails, last stuff to leave was the remainder of MNTC's stuff, which was pulled by MQT 3004 as WGRRBUF-07 to Hoosier Jct, where a Monon Crew took it back to their junction with the Garrett Sub. 3004 returned on the Hoosier Shooter (Monon transfer) today, and pulled the train as LBUFGRR-09 to GR.