NS3322 wrote:Does Miller Trucking (in the old MC shops) receive rail service?
And when did Flex 'N Gate in Battle Creek stop shipping by rail?
NS Michigan Customers
Re: NS Michigan Customers
I don't recall Miller or Flex-N-Gate ever shipping by rail.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
Re: NS Michigan Customers
Michigan Line list is complete! How did i do?
http://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/N ... #Customers
http://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/N ... #Customers
Last edited by NS3322 on Mon Jul 01, 2019 4:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: NS Michigan Customers
So is there just one Jackson to Kalamazoo train now? Use to be 2 with the Battle Creek job. Seems IIRC wasn't B33 the night job and the BC train use to get to Gearhart before noon? Since we have found out the JAIL traffic goes east to Bellevue has there been a reduction in traffic to the Elk?
Re: NS Michigan Customers
B33 is now on duty at Noon Sun-Thu. BC to Kzoo train is still running.Super Chief wrote:So is there just one Jackson to Kalamazoo train now? Use to be 2 with the Battle Creek job. Seems IIRC wasn't B33 the night job and the BC train use to get to Gearhart before noon? Since we have found out the JAIL traffic goes east to Bellevue has there been a reduction in traffic to the Elk?
Re: NS Michigan Customers
Well done NS3322! When I have more time I'll try to assist you refine it a little.
NS3322 wrote:Michigan Line list is complete! How did i do?
http://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/N ... #Customers
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
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Re: NS Michigan Customers
Townline is the dividing line between MDOT-owned track and Conrail-owned track. But the line is called the Michigan Line all the way to the Detroit River, or at least to the point where CP ownership begins. Amtrak does the dispatching on the MDOT portion as far as I know.NS3322 wrote:Where does the Michigan Line end in the Detroit Area (is it still Townline)?
Does Miller Trucking (in the old MC shops) receive rail service?
And when did Flex 'N Gate in Battle Creek stop shipping by rail?
Amateur railfan trying to become a real railfan since 2017.
Re: NS Michigan Customers
LC Howard in Kalamazoo. I think it is Cottonseed they get in woodchip cars.
Graphic Packaging/Treehouse in Battle Creek is switched by CN only as far as I know. Never, ever seen NS switching those.
Graphic Packaging/Treehouse in Battle Creek is switched by CN only as far as I know. Never, ever seen NS switching those.
Re: NS Michigan Customers
Where is the unloading done? Is this the building at the east side of Botsford?12Bridge wrote:LC Howard in Kalamazoo. I think it is Cottonseed they get in woodchip cars.
That is what I thought. I never have either. Thanks.12Bridge wrote:Graphic Packaging/Treehouse in Battle Creek is switched by CN only as far as I know. Never, ever seen NS switching those.
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Re: NS Michigan Customers
They did get some coil cars in not to long ago, but I don't know if they still are.AARR wrote:I don't recall Miller or Flex-N-Gate ever shipping by rail.NS3322 wrote:Does Miller Trucking (in the old MC shops) receive rail service?
Re: NS Michigan Customers
Just wanted to update this thread to put on record that National Standard in Niles is not currently using rail service. (Confirms what we all pretty much assumed).
"Our Niles plant says we can, but currently do not."
(They very kindly replied to my email).
"Our Niles plant says we can, but currently do not."
(They very kindly replied to my email).
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Re: NS Michigan Customers
Hello everyone, this is my first post on this site so thank you for letting me join the wonderful world of train fans.
Unfortunately, Ameriwood in Dowagiac is no longer doing the manufacturing of products at that plant. It has actually been renamed to their parent company Dorel Industries and is now a distribution center. I do not think they are using rail at this time. I have not seen the local stop in Dowagiac in over a year. The spur is still there but just not being serviced. Pretty sad for me because I remember as a kid riding my bike every Tuesday and Thursday (local delivery/pick up days) to Ameriwood, Jessup Door and National Copper when all three were switched out. Jessup door moved to Mexico decades ago, National Copper moved out 5-10 years ago and they just recently took out the switch to that spur. The spur is still there but the switch is gone. I would really love to see some local action back in Dowagiac but I just don’t see that happening anytime soon. Hopefully the Dorel distribution center starts using rail or Mennel Milling finally gets a spur.
Unfortunately, Ameriwood in Dowagiac is no longer doing the manufacturing of products at that plant. It has actually been renamed to their parent company Dorel Industries and is now a distribution center. I do not think they are using rail at this time. I have not seen the local stop in Dowagiac in over a year. The spur is still there but just not being serviced. Pretty sad for me because I remember as a kid riding my bike every Tuesday and Thursday (local delivery/pick up days) to Ameriwood, Jessup Door and National Copper when all three were switched out. Jessup door moved to Mexico decades ago, National Copper moved out 5-10 years ago and they just recently took out the switch to that spur. The spur is still there but the switch is gone. I would really love to see some local action back in Dowagiac but I just don’t see that happening anytime soon. Hopefully the Dorel distribution center starts using rail or Mennel Milling finally gets a spur.
Re: NS Michigan Customers
Welcome, and thank you for your post.
Dowagiac Train Dude wrote: ↑Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:13 amHello everyone, this is my first post on this site so thank you for letting me join the wonderful world of train fans.
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...
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Re: NS Michigan Customers
Thank you and you are welcome. I just wish it were good news about trains returning to Dowagiac.AARR wrote: ↑Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:18 amWelcome, and thank you for your post.Dowagiac Train Dude wrote: ↑Fri Apr 23, 2021 8:13 amHello everyone, this is my first post on this site so thank you for letting me join the wonderful world of train fans.
Re: NS Michigan Customers
So for Porter-Kalamazoo the only active shippers now are Welch's and Northstar?
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Re: NS Michigan Customers
I do believe that is correct. I went by Welchs a few Sundays ago and the local was there switching out tankers. I am not sure how often Northstar (Cargill) gets switched out but there has been covered hoppers there the last few times I have driven by the elevator. Every now and then they will have a unit train there getting loaded but I believe that is during the summer and winter harvest. Typically it’s about 80-90 cars and four NS loco’s that bring them there.
Does anyone know if the huge new power plant that is being built in Niles will use rail?
Re: NS Michigan Customers
Do not forget Treadstone in Niles and Co-Alliance in Buchanan! I believe these are still active.
Treadstone unloads (?) woodchip hoppers full of recycled rubber mulch by Davis Cartage in Niles.
Also, the new power plant under construction in Niles will be powered by natural gas, so it is very unlikely to get rail service. One red flag is that they did not even get the generators delivered by rail to Niles; they were instead unloaded at Edwardsburg on CN.
Last edited by NS3322 on Fri Apr 23, 2021 10:10 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: NS Michigan Customers
Good call, I was thinking there was one in Buchanan but wasn’t sure if it was still active. I did not know about Treadstone in Niles.
Thank you for the info on the power plant also.
Re: NS Michigan Customers
From what I gathered I believe that Treadstone and Co-Alliance are more seasonal/as-needed switches, so you are mostly correct that Welch's and Cargill (they bought out Northstar in 2013) are the last true major shippers on the line.Dowagiac Train Dude wrote: ↑Fri Apr 23, 2021 9:55 amGood call, I was thinking there was one in Buchanan but wasn’t sure if it was still active. I did not know about Treadstone in Niles.
The last time Google Maps captured cars on the Treadstone unloading spur was in 2017, but the excavator is still present in 2019 imagery so I think they are still active. I really need to scout Treadstone and Co-Alliance out in person in the next few weeks... I believe Treadstone used to get product in those really tall garbage gondolas. They have since switched to woodchip hoppers and maybe regular gondolas.
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Re: NS Michigan Customers
Thank you for that information. Does NS switch out the customers in Michigan City as well?NS3322 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 23, 2021 10:08 amFrom what I gathered I believe that Treadstone and Co-Alliance are more seasonal/as-needed switches, so you are mostly correct that Welch's and Cargill (they bought out Northstar in 2013) are the last true major shippers on the line.Dowagiac Train Dude wrote: ↑Fri Apr 23, 2021 9:55 amGood call, I was thinking there was one in Buchanan but wasn’t sure if it was still active. I did not know about Treadstone in Niles.
The last time Google Maps captured cars on the Treadstone unloading spur was in 2017, but the excavator is still present in 2019 imagery so I think they are still active. I really need to scout Treadstone and Co-Alliance out in person in the next few weeks...
treadstone.JPG
I believe Treadstone used to get product in those really tall garbage gondolas. They have since switched to woodchip hoppers and maybe regular gondolas.