AMTK Equipment in Jackson Any guesses?

[Ypsi]

It'll come in due time really. But, with the State you really never know. NS might be looking to rid of the Jackson-Kzoo segment next, or am I mistaken that that segment is included in the State's proposal from NS?

The state is supposed to be purchasing Ypsi (might be further east) to Kzoo I believe. With NS keeping all of the yards and operating of freight...

[SD80MAC]

I was under the impression that everything west of Wayne was going to Amtrak with NS retaining freight rights.

[bctrainfan]

Did someone say that this is not near a rail line? Seems like just bad taste not to have a railroad building near the actual railroad!

Why? Plenty of instances where the RR gets a good deal on a office property that is no where near the tracks.

Practice Safe CSX

1) Maybe I misunderstood, but this is not just an office, is it? They will be storing materials and euipment and supplies for MoW and for use on trains, as evident by the stacks of ties and the new loader, yes? Seems like it would be handy to keep that stuff along the line. And most areas seem to have plenty of bargain-basement vacant properties adjacent to rail lines.

2) I just think its kinda funny.

[Scooterb]

The Old Cincinnati Northern RR is across the street from this building. This branch serves Mac Steel, Worthington Steel, and occasionally a lumber yard. Its about 2 miles from Jackson Yard.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=2330+bro ... s&t=h&z=18

[Saturnalia]

It'll come in due time really. But, with the State you really never know. NS might be looking to rid of the Jackson-Kzoo segment next, or am I mistaken that that segment is included in the State's proposal from NS?

The deal is everything from K-zoo to Dearbornish (somewhere in there, the actual milepost escapes me)....

For the millionth time, NS want to get rid of the track but operate it with trackage rights! They would be the winners of this deal!

[CSX_CO]

1) Maybe I misunderstood, but this is not just an office, is it? They will be storing materials and euipment and supplies for MoW and for use on trains, as evident by the stacks of ties and the new loader, yes? Seems like it would be handy to keep that stuff along the line. And most areas seem to have plenty of bargain-basement vacant properties adjacent to rail lines.

Except when you have a building next to a rail line, and someone like AMTRAK comes knocking you can jack your price up. After all, railroads have deep pockets right?

Just looks like it will be used like a MOW garage, and perhaps some storage of materials (Spikes, plates, bars, etc) but there is no way you could fit enough MOW material in that building to maintain the line. Smaller stuff that has a propensity to walk away, but you couldn't store enough ties in that parking lot. Those tie bundles almost look like the kind for a crossing replacement that they'd build panel track out of.

Practice Safe CSX

[AARR]

The Old Cincinnati Northern RR is across the street from this building. This branch serves Mac Steel, Worthington Steel, and occasionally a lumber yard. Its about 2 miles from Jackson Yard.

Worthington gets a small block of cars once or twice a month. Most of their steel comes from Chicago (Gary, IN) and it is easier for them to have it trucked in.

[tadman]

Land and buildings near rail lines are far more expensive. If Amtrak doesn't plan on having rail deliveries, it would be a bad use of tax money to buy a building near the tracks.

If there's a 20% premium on near-rail and rail-served land, and that's normally a $500k bldg, you're looking at an extra $100k for being near/on rail. If the median household income is $44k, that's over two household incomes extra to get a building near the tracks for no good reason (provided it's just a MofW storage facility for pickup trucks and supplies).

[AC60CW]

This building couldn't be much closer to rail. It is just on the other side of the road. Still close enough access to allow loading and unloading of cars. Maybe they will do so across the street at Willbee. Just a thought is all.

[CSX_CO]

This building couldn't be much closer to rail. It is just on the other side of the road. Still close enough access to allow loading and unloading of cars. Maybe they will do so across the street at Willbee. Just a thought is all.

If they're getting the facilities in the line sale, they'll probably just store the larger materials at Jackson Yard. No need for a 'special' move to go down there and unload to just have to reload anything of any quantity. Most of the smaller stuff gets trucked in, spike kegs, plates, bars etc. for smaller projects. Only on the larger projects will you see a gon full of spikes or plates, etc.

Practice Safe CSX

[Saturnalia]

Does anyone have the address?

My guess is most MOW equipment would come out of Chicago, having been staged there. This could just be their little secondary lot to store stuff and base smaller jobs out of, kind of like most lines use old depots along the line as MOW storage/offices/meeting areas.

[Scooterb]

2330 Brooklyn rd

[MagnumForce]

It's a good location and not really far away, any of the stuff there will be trucked to worksites anyway. Not a big deal, they get to go right past the freight house Wendy's that way too

[CAT345C]

I don't understand why you guys think it should be near the tracks. The materials they are going to store here wouldn't come in by train. Any real tie work they are going to do would likely be shipped in via train, the ties they are storing is for minimal routine maintenance. Looks like maybe 400 or 500 based on the photos. So that would be about 2 truck loads. As for the equipment...when have you guys ever seen MDOT or any other municipality buy used equipment? When I was dealing with municipalities they had to go through a bid process if they wanted to buy a truck or loader. They would take bids from John Deere, Case, Cat, Ford, Dodge and Chevy. Seeing how Amtrak is government owned it would not surprise me if they had to do a similar process.

[AC60CW]

I don't understand why you guys think it should be near the tracks. The materials they are going to store here wouldn't come in by train. Any real tie work they are going to do would likely be shipped in via train, the ties they are storing is for minimal routine maintenance. Looks like maybe 400 or 500 based on the photos. So that would be about 2 truck loads. As for the equipment...when have you guys ever seen MDOT or any other municipality buy used equipment? When I was dealing with municipalities they had to go through a bid process if they wanted to buy a truck or loader. They would take bids from John Deere, Case, Cat, Ford, Dodge and Chevy. Seeing how Amtrak is government owned it would not surprise me if they had to do a similar process.

I was thinking this actually right after I posted. Usually, like a couple have mentioned. When major work is done, they bring it in my train and just drop it off on the side of the rail spaced out, same with the ballast.