Ludington Northern Railway
Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 4:40 pm
This thread is going to serve not only as a paper railroad as part of the group*, but also as the operations thread for my model railroad. This move will help to keep the Model Railroading thread clear of what many would consider clutter.
More to come soon, but here is a map of the Ludington Northern Railway (LNR)
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=21 ... fbf9&msa=0
*Note: Paper Railroads Group Membership shall come into effect at 16:00 EDT on 7-20-13, unless someone objects. But who would, it only connects with my MQT...
For now, I leave you with the first bit of history. This is where my story departs from the real thing.
History Part I : LUN's Downfall
With Sargent’s business in Ludington collapsing, and eventually closing, the railroad was faced with abandonment. Thankfully, the line’s owner refused to abandon, hoping that eventually, mine business would pick back up. The mine closed in 1986, and the line fell silent. LUN 16, the railroad’s sore locomotive power, was leased and later sold to the Ann Arbor Railway Company.
After several years, the line right-of-way was overgrown, the crossings paved over. The line looked doomed. Nearby landowners, concerned about the line’s condition, petitioned to have the line removed for good. This failed when it became clear the city could not force the railroad out. Sargent was also prudent in making sure adjacent landowners could not access eminent domain, mostly by going door-to-door and staking out the right-of-way.
More to come soon!
More to come soon, but here is a map of the Ludington Northern Railway (LNR)
https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=21 ... fbf9&msa=0
*Note: Paper Railroads Group Membership shall come into effect at 16:00 EDT on 7-20-13, unless someone objects. But who would, it only connects with my MQT...
For now, I leave you with the first bit of history. This is where my story departs from the real thing.
History Part I : LUN's Downfall
With Sargent’s business in Ludington collapsing, and eventually closing, the railroad was faced with abandonment. Thankfully, the line’s owner refused to abandon, hoping that eventually, mine business would pick back up. The mine closed in 1986, and the line fell silent. LUN 16, the railroad’s sore locomotive power, was leased and later sold to the Ann Arbor Railway Company.
After several years, the line right-of-way was overgrown, the crossings paved over. The line looked doomed. Nearby landowners, concerned about the line’s condition, petitioned to have the line removed for good. This failed when it became clear the city could not force the railroad out. Sargent was also prudent in making sure adjacent landowners could not access eminent domain, mostly by going door-to-door and staking out the right-of-way.
More to come soon!