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E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 9:07 pm
by MQT1223
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/A4nNoDACq2DbFK5w/?
Sounds like the E&W in Elkhart is planning on relaying/rebuilding around 5 miles of track to connect into the CN so that way they can have access to not just NS. Curious how this will affect them long term and if this means they have something lined up with CN
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2024 9:48 pm
by ~Z~
Have a linky for those without facebook accounts, and better yet, people that aren't a member of the private 174 member group?
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 7:52 am
by Steve B
~Z~ wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 9:48 pm
Have a linky for those without facebook accounts, and better yet, people that aren't a member of the private 174 member group?
The following is on page 11 of this FRA PDF, published yesterday. Don't see how the amount comes close to rebuilding 5 miles though. Maybe E&W will actually get NS rights to Mishawaka and then build a shorter connection to CN?
https://tinyurl.com/y6axdfpz
St. Joseph County Capital Avenue Corridor Rail Expansion Project (Up to $772,800)
St. Joseph County, Indiana
The proposed project was selected for Project Development and includes extension of the existing Patriot Rail
Elkhart and Western Railroad to connect with Canadian National Railway’s Chicago-Toronto. The project aligns
with the selection criteria by advancing economic opportunities to ship goods by rail, benefitting the customers of
Elkhart and Western Railroad with two Class I connections. St. Joseph’s County and EWR will contribute the 20
percent non-Federal match. The project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 8:17 am
by ~Z~
Steve B wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 7:52 am
Don't see how the amount comes close to rebuilding 5 miles though.
No kidding on the costs. Some of the ROW looks decent to get through, except for the western-most 1 mile. Some grade crossings to be put back in on busy roads, but that last mile has a lot of buildings all over the ROW.
If anything, curve the tracks at route 331, parallel the road and go along the electric ROW to connect to CN north of Mishawaka.
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 8:19 am
by AARR
Is there enough traffic to justify the cost? How often is service, twice a week?
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:02 am
by LansingRailFan
CN also is almost done connecting to the Kingsbury Industrial Park via the trackage that goes to the Kingsbury Elevator.
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Wed Oct 30, 2024 8:43 pm
by justalurker66
North from the end of the line to CN next to Capital Ave.
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 6:53 am
by Erroneous Monk
Steve B wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 7:52 am
~Z~ wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 9:48 pm
Have a linky for those without facebook accounts, and better yet, people that aren't a member of the private 174 member group?
The following is on page 11 of this FRA PDF, published yesterday. Don't see how the amount comes close to rebuilding 5 miles though. Maybe E&W will actually get NS rights to Mishawaka and then build a shorter connection to CN?
https://tinyurl.com/y6axdfpz
St. Joseph County Capital Avenue Corridor Rail Expansion Project (Up to $772,800)
St. Joseph County, Indiana
The proposed project was selected for Project Development and includes extension of the existing Patriot Rail
Elkhart and Western Railroad to connect with Canadian National Railway’s Chicago-Toronto. The project aligns
with the selection criteria by advancing economic opportunities to ship goods by rail, benefitting the customers of
Elkhart and Western Railroad with two Class I connections. St. Joseph’s County and EWR will contribute the 20
percent non-Federal match. The project qualifies for the statutory set-aside for projects in Rural Areas.
Maybe the $772,800 is St. Joseph's 20% match? If so that'd bring total costs to $3,864,000.
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 11:10 am
by LansingRailFan
~Z~ wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 8:17 am
Steve B wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 7:52 am
Don't see how the amount comes close to rebuilding 5 miles though.
No kidding on the costs. Some of the ROW looks decent to get through, except for the western-most 1 mile. Some grade crossings to be put back in on busy roads, but that last mile has a lot of buildings all over the ROW.
If anything, curve the tracks at route 331, parallel the road and go along the electric ROW to connect to CN north of Mishawaka.
The suggested route looks to curve to the north on the east side of US 331 right here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/PmuuRzh9tLbLJf4p6
They'd connect to the CN where US 331 crosses CN.
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Thu Oct 31, 2024 1:29 pm
by chapmaja
The map I found online seems to show what LRF has suggested. The line will extend from the current end of the tracks at Current Rd, cross Current Rd and run alongside Perry Auto, as indicated on the map LRF posted. It will then turn and head north, running alongside 331 until it reaches the CN tracks north of town. It looks like only a few crossings would need to be reinstalled on the line, the Current Rd crossing, the Day Rd crossing and the Douglass Rd crossing, as well as at least 1 crossing accessing the AEP powerstation.
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2024 8:00 pm
by Jim_c
Looks like there's an industrial spur that runs to behind WestRock. I wonder if that is perhaps the target. The route paralleling 331 is labeled as the alternate. Those of you who are far more familiar with the logistics involved may be able to shed some light on this.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fDYk4u8dGjsQKUAP6
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Fri Nov 01, 2024 10:16 pm
by justalurker66
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2024 6:37 pm
by SecondCreek
LansingRailFan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:02 am
CN also is almost done connecting to the Kingsbury Industrial Park via the trackage that goes to the Kingsbury Elevator.
That will doom the South Shore Line in the industrial park. There are what, just two customers besides car storage?
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2024 6:41 pm
by SecondCreek
Jim_c wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2024 8:00 pm
Looks like there's an industrial spur that runs to behind WestRock. I wonder if that is perhaps the target. The route paralleling 331 is labeled as the alternate. Those of you who are far more familiar with the logistics involved may be able to shed some light on this.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fDYk4u8dGjsQKUAP6
Does that WestRock plant even still get rail service? Over the years looking at Google imagery I have never seen freight cars on that spur.
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Tue Nov 05, 2024 6:47 pm
by LansingRailFan
SecondCreek wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 6:37 pm
LansingRailFan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:02 am
CN also is almost done connecting to the Kingsbury Industrial Park via the trackage that goes to the Kingsbury Elevator.
That will doom the South Shore Line in the industrial park. There are what, just two customers besides car storage?
Lots of rumblings about the CSS anywho so
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2024 4:00 pm
by MQT1223
LansingRailFan wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 6:47 pm
SecondCreek wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 6:37 pm
LansingRailFan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:02 am
CN also is almost done connecting to the Kingsbury Industrial Park via the trackage that goes to the Kingsbury Elevator.
That will doom the South Shore Line in the industrial park. There are what, just two customers besides car storage?
Lots of rumblings about the CSS anywho so
In terms of what?
Re: E&W to rebuild connection with former GT in Mishawaka
Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2024 9:54 pm
by NS3322
SecondCreek wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 6:41 pm
Jim_c wrote: ↑Fri Nov 01, 2024 8:00 pm
Looks like there's an industrial spur that runs to behind WestRock. I wonder if that is perhaps the target. The route paralleling 331 is labeled as the alternate. Those of you who are far more familiar with the logistics involved may be able to shed some light on this.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/fDYk4u8dGjsQKUAP6
Does that WestRock plant even still get rail service? Over the years looking at Google imagery I have never seen freight cars on that spur.
No they do not. I have always wondered why they stopped using rail. That plant was originally a Smurfit-Stone plant, and it appears the tracks stopped seeing use after they were acquired by Rock-Tenn in 2011.
SecondCreek wrote: ↑Tue Nov 05, 2024 6:37 pm
LansingRailFan wrote: ↑Wed Oct 30, 2024 10:02 am
CN also is almost done connecting to the Kingsbury Industrial Park via the trackage that goes to the Kingsbury Elevator.
That will doom the South Shore Line in the industrial park. There are what, just two customers besides car storage?
Yep, Precoat Metals and Alexander Chemical.