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Working on the MAL
Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 4:24 pm
by NoviRailfan
As I drove over the MAL at M-5 this afternoon, there was a crew working on the track just east of the crossing. They had a couple of small pieces of equipment on the track. I couldn't tell what they were up to although I'm assuming that anything on that stretch of the MAL these days involves removing track, not fixing it.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Fri May 18, 2012 11:38 pm
by NoviRailfan
The tracks and ties have been removed on either side of the crossing on M-5. I didn't get a chance to head east or west to see how far they've gone but it shouldn't be long before all the remaining track is removed. A couple of weeks ago, I got stuck in a massive backup on M-5 when the crossings were activated with no track gang around. It took several County Sheriff deputies to physically remove the gates from the crossing to clear the traffic. The gates are still lying on the ground where they left them.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Sun May 20, 2012 8:50 pm
by Tom
I still remember being amazed that they built that crossing for the Dinner Train when they built M-5, the "super road". What a waste, someday we will be sorry for all these abandonments when gas is $6 a gallon.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Tue May 22, 2012 5:58 pm
by CAT345C
Ran out and took some photos today of the progress, rail is all the way up to just past Ladd Rd. From Walled Lake proper to the east they have already pulled up all the ties and slightly graded the road bed.
IMG_8598 by
miketabone89, on Flickr
IMG_8597 by
miketabone89, on Flickr
Labor Day 2010 I made the interchange run to CSX Photo by Michael Broadwater
58484_427543411429_550701429_5513911_2385329_n by
miketabone89, on Flickr
This same location from above almost 2 years later
IMG_8600 by
miketabone89, on Flickr
This nifty 320 has the rail grapple on it
IMG_8599 by
miketabone89, on Flickr
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 12:49 am
by TrainWatcher
wow
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 1:44 am
by Racer
I hated to see this happen ever since I started working at that depot last year and the day finally came. The sights of 725 sitting infront of the depot at Pontiac Trail is nothing but a memory now. I will always cherish the fond memories of working on the freight trains during the last 6 months of operation. Just sad to see what has become of the first place my railroad carreer began. Although I am still working for the corporate office which has been relocated, I will forever have the memories of the first railroad I worked on for Railmark Holdings....and that is the Michigan Air-Line Railway.
Fun facts about the MAL:
Our last revenue freight train was December 13th of 2011 which consisted of locomotive 1512, 1 empty flatcar, and 3 covered hoppers to the CSX interchange.
The final train ever on the MAL was March 25th of 2012 which consisted of 725 leading 1512, the Greenbank passenger car, the ex-Art Train caboose, and the ex-ATSF Vista Cavern to the CSX interchange.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 7:22 am
by Michael
I wonder how APT has been getting along without the MAL
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 1:58 pm
by NoviRailfan
Although I didn't spend much time along the MAL, it's always a bummer to see the old lines go. But realistically, it's a wonder that the MAL was around as long as it was. As previously discussed, there were only a couple of semi-active customers and without traffic, there's little reason for these lines to stick around. It didn't seem like there was much effort or money invested back into the line either, which makes sense with such limited traffic but didn't bode well for the long-term.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 4:07 pm
by Racer
The only active customers that I can trace back was American Plastic Toys (Last active and consistant customer), the railcar repairs at the shop in Walled Lake (Relocated off the MAL in 2009), the Lowe's Lumber Center near Decker Road (ended in the mid-90s), and railcar transloading at the Walled Lake Depot (Stopped in 2010), and then the Dinner Train and Scenic Express.
A&K officially removed the last peice of rail at the interchange in Wixom. The rails at the Wixom Road grade crossing are still in, but the rest is all gone. The only tracks remaining at the interchange is CSX's trackage and the MAL's portion is no more.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 5:19 pm
by AARR
Michael wrote:I wonder how APT has been getting along without the MAL
I have heard that there was a Northern Logistics bulk truck from Clare there the other day. That could possibly make sense because APT has another plant up near Roscommon that is served by Northern Logistics out of Clare.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 7:37 pm
by NoviRailfan
Sounds like you're more familiar with any conflicts between Walled Lake and the MAL. But my understanding is that there'e very little control a city can exercise over a railroad operation. If the MAL wanted to keep on operating, I don't see how the city could have forced it out.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 7:53 pm
by chapmaja
NoviRailfan wrote:Sounds like you're more familiar with any conflicts between Walled Lake and the MAL. But my understanding is that there'e very little control a city can exercise over a railroad operation. If the MAL wanted to keep on operating, I don't see how the city could have forced it out.
Yes and no. There is little they can do with the actual operations of the railroad, but cities do have control over the things like stations and business operations. I'm sure they didn't make it easy for the railroad to conduct operations.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 12:09 am
by ns8401
Chrisracer8903 wrote:The only active customers that I can trace back was American Plastic Toys (Last active and consistant customer), the railcar repairs at the shop in Walled Lake (Relocated off the MAL in 2009), the Lowe's Lumber Center near Decker Road (ended in the mid-90s), and railcar transloading at the Walled Lake Depot (Stopped in 2010), and then the Dinner Train and Scenic Express. This railroad did make profits from the freight and passenger trains (Mainly passenger), but Walled Lake really wanted the trains out badly and did anything they could to push the MAL out. You all wonder why the MAL is gone, you point to the city of Walled Lake who wanted the bike trail so badly. The city hindering with the MAL's passenger train business is one of the many bad choices the city has done and I could go on with further detail about this, but I won't. That's why I will never give a penny to any business in Walled Lake ever again.
A&K officially removed the last peice of rail at the interchange in Wixom. The rails at the Wixom Road grade crossing are still in, but the rest is all gone. The only tracks remaining at the interchange is CSX's trackage and the MAL's portion is no more.
Chris, there were lumber cars in there as late as July 2008.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 12:38 am
by TrainWatcher
ns8401 wrote:Chrisracer8903 wrote:The only active customers that I can trace back was American Plastic Toys (Last active and consistant customer), the railcar repairs at the shop in Walled Lake (Relocated off the MAL in 2009), the Lowe's Lumber Center near Decker Road (ended in the mid-90s), and railcar transloading at the Walled Lake Depot (Stopped in 2010), and then the Dinner Train and Scenic Express. This railroad did make profits from the freight and passenger trains (Mainly passenger), but Walled Lake really wanted the trains out badly and did anything they could to push the MAL out. You all wonder why the MAL is gone, you point to the city of Walled Lake who wanted the bike trail so badly. The city hindering with the MAL's passenger train business is one of the many bad choices the city has done and I could go on with further detail about this, but I won't. That's why I will never give a penny to any business in Walled Lake ever again.
A&K officially removed the last peice of rail at the interchange in Wixom. The rails at the Wixom Road grade crossing are still in, but the rest is all gone. The only tracks remaining at the interchange is CSX's trackage and the MAL's portion is no more.
Chris, there were lumber cars in there as late as July 2008.
Careful Duva.... your talking to Mr. Railmark Part Time Marketing department there.... you know he knows everything about the line... he eats, sleeps and breathes the MAL... how dare you correct him.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 12:44 am
by Racer
ns8401 wrote:Chris, there were lumber cars in there as late as July 2008.
Are you sure your not talking about the lumber spur near Haggerty Road? Some of those lumber cars were transloading and they got relocated off the MAL, but I'm not 100% sure about that one.
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 8:53 am
by AARR
Chrisracer8903 wrote:ns8401 wrote:Chris, there were lumber cars in there as late as July 2008.
Are you sure your not talking about the lumber spur near Haggerty Road? Some of those lumber cars were transloading and they got relocated off the MAL, but I'm not 100% sure about that one.
Home Quarters used the spur near Decker Rd until they closed in the 1990's. Haggerty Lumber (Erb, Stock) received rail service later but I do not know when they stopped (amybe that is who received until 2008?)
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 12:42 am
by Robertrains
TrainWatcher wrote:wow
This sums it up for sure! It's so sad that nothing could have kept the line intact! I had a great time seeing COE and MAL over the last few years! Last year was awesome watching them move out old passenger equipment + freight!
Tuesday 4-17 is the date CSX picked up the equipment at Wixom! The "Vista Cavern" was the only thing left at the interchange; I'm sure that's gone now! It was sold to Ferromex of Mexico!
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 3:34 pm
by Michael
My in laws got me this 5 DVD set called "
The World's Greatest Railroads" and the COE/MAL's Dinner Train was featured on it
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 8:02 pm
by Robertrains
Michael wrote:My in laws got me this 5 DVD set called "The World's Greatest Railroads" and the COE/MAL's Dinner Train was featured on it
Is this the DVD set that you're talking about? http://www.amazon.com/The-Worlds-Greate ... 61-5504537
What other Railroads are featured in the set? How much North America is featured? Is it worth getting?
I already miss COE/MAL!!!!
Re: Working on the MAL
Posted: Mon May 28, 2012 9:53 pm
by ns8401
Chrisracer8903 wrote:ns8401 wrote:Chris, there were lumber cars in there as late as July 2008.
Are you sure your not talking about the lumber spur near Haggerty Road? Some of those lumber cars were transloading and they got relocated off the MAL, but I'm not 100% sure about that one.
That's the one I was thinking of, where was the other one?