GR&E Questions
GR&E Questions
What is the schedule for the GRE? Do they run on Fridays?
And do they leave the locomotive outside or inside the enginehouse?
And do they leave the locomotive outside or inside the enginehouse?
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- Railroadfan...fan
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Re: GR&E Questions
Based on my observations from both ends of the line, they are unpredictable. Depends on how many loads for King are in the yard at Ann Street and probably if there is any space left in Lowell to place them, IMHO. Usually they head EB mid-morning sometime, and return mid-afternoon. But it can be any day of the week, usually around 3 days a week lately, since King has expanded. Occasionally they make two trips to Lowell in one day. They generally do not leave their locomotive outside in GR, but depending on the balance of cars, crew hours, etc. they will leave a locomotive in Lowell overnight.
Re: GR&E Questions
Does Amway have their own track mobile or small locomotive? Looking at Google Maps I see 20 cars (tanks and covered hoppers) spread between their yard and what appears to be at least half a dozen different loading / unloading locations. Does Amway get inbound materials only, or do they ship outbound as well?
Also, who are the current customers on the GRE? Is the wire place in Lowell still in business, or is it just King Milling now. I also recall a spur with covered hoppers being unloaded but that appears gone as well. In Ada there is the Amway plant. In GR you have Precision Poly with covered hoppers. Kent Manufacturing has a connected spur, but it doesn't look used. West of GR was the cement unloading, but that doesn't look used either. West of that Meijer looked like it used to get service, but the switches may be removed and the spurs looked unused. The next potential customer is Standard Lumber near Fruit Ridge.
Where does the GRE end and the C&M trackage begin? In Marne I see no sign of customers. The old plant in Coopersville is used for equipment "storage" but the tracks are disconnected within the plant property itself.
Also, who are the current customers on the GRE? Is the wire place in Lowell still in business, or is it just King Milling now. I also recall a spur with covered hoppers being unloaded but that appears gone as well. In Ada there is the Amway plant. In GR you have Precision Poly with covered hoppers. Kent Manufacturing has a connected spur, but it doesn't look used. West of GR was the cement unloading, but that doesn't look used either. West of that Meijer looked like it used to get service, but the switches may be removed and the spurs looked unused. The next potential customer is Standard Lumber near Fruit Ridge.
Where does the GRE end and the C&M trackage begin? In Marne I see no sign of customers. The old plant in Coopersville is used for equipment "storage" but the tracks are disconnected within the plant property itself.
- Saturnalia
- Authority on Cat
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Re: GR&E Questions
Check out the GRE wiki page for the answers to a lot of your questions (both of you)
http://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/M ... R,_MS,_GRE
http://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/M ... R,_MS,_GRE
- Schteinkuh
- Railcam Terrorizer
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Re: GR&E Questions
Amway has a little track mobile
According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don't care what humans think is impossible.
Re: GR&E Questions
So does King Milling.R3DZ0N3 wrote:Amway has a little track mobile
- SD80MAC
- Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
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Re: GR&E Questions
GRE runs fairly reliably Monday-Wednesday-Friday. On duty time depends on if the crew comes from Muskegon or Alma. Cuurently they have 3 active customers plus the C&M interchange. More info at: http://railroadfan.com/wiki/index.php/M ... R,_MS,_GRE
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
Re: GR&E Questions
Has the switch been removed where the tracks split south of the bridge in Lowell (one going to King Milling and the other formerly going to Ionia)?
- MQT1223
- O Scale Railfanner
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Re: GR&E Questions
That was removed years ago. The rails from Malta to Grand River Ave are gone now with “the last mile” remaining from Grand River Ave to the county line remaining.NS3322 wrote:Has the switch been removed where the tracks split south of the bridge in Lowell (one going to King Milling and the other formerly going to Ionia)?
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- SD80MAC
- Ingersoll's Mr. Michigan
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Re: GR&E Questions
Yes, about 2 years ago.NS3322 wrote:Has the switch been removed where the tracks split south of the bridge in Lowell (one going to King Milling and the other formerly going to Ionia)?
"Remember, 4 mph is a couple, 5's a collision!"
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/
http://flickriver.com/photos/conrail680 ... teresting/