CN says goodbye to Baraga

[MQT1223]

Sounds like CN is pulling the plug on the mothballed section of railroad between L’Anse and Baraga. Per a post on the YooperRails group on Facebook the town was notified last month.

How long has it been since anything even went to Baraga? 10-15 years maybe? Wondered why the line wasn’t offered to Watco like everything else.

[Saturnalia]

Sounds like CN is pulling the plug on the mothballed section of railroad between L’Anse and Baraga. Per a post on the YooperRails group on Facebook the town was notified last month.

How long has it been since anything even went to Baraga? 10-15 years maybe? Wondered why the line wasn’t offered to Watco like everything else.

Until around 2014/15 or so, the L'Anse train overnighted at Baraga. Since then, I do not think they have been past L'Anse.

No filings with the STB yet.

[DaveO]

maybe because cn kept the line to l'anse?
and it wouldn't be profitable for someone to operate an isolated section of a couple miles of unused track?
no filing to abandon has been filed with the stb.
wisconsin central had filed and received discontinuance of service.

[Saturnalia]

maybe because cn kept the line to l'anse?
and it wouldn't be profitable for someone to operate an isolated section of a couple miles of unused track?
no filing to abandon has been filed with the stb.
wisconsin central had filed and received discontinuance of service.

Correct, they can just take the line out of service. That actually has been the status quo for years. So I'm not sure why any notification to the City would be made now, unless perhaps an advanced warning of intent to abandon. But who knows, we don't have anything concrete here to begin with.

[Erroneous Monk]

and it wouldn't be profitable for someone to operate an isolated section of a couple miles of unused track?

CN was able to pawn the White Pine branch off as part of that package deal and there really doesn't seem to be much hope in that line's future

[GP30M4216]

The filing is coming. About 4 miles of track.

[GRHC]

The filing is coming. About 4 miles of track.

Well that doesn’t leave railfans much time to form a nonprofit corporation to purchase the line and start a tourist/museum operation. GP30M4216 I expect you to take the lead on this and make things happen.

[MQT1223]

maybe because cn kept the line to l'anse?
and it wouldn't be profitable for someone to operate an isolated section of a couple miles of unused track?
no filing to abandon has been filed with the stb.
wisconsin central had filed and received discontinuance of service.

I was referring to the whole line

[AARR]

Mike H is in charge of finding transload business

The filing is coming. About 4 miles of track.

Well that doesn’t leave railfans much time to form a nonprofit corporation to purchase the line and start a tourist/museum operation. GP30M4216 I expect you to take the lead on this and make things happen.

[David Lang]

When was the last time Baraga actually had a rail served customer? I have always wondered about that.

By the way, go get ‘em Mike H (regarding transload opportunities - if anyone can, it’s Mike H!!)

[kd_1014]

maybe because cn kept the line to l'anse?
and it wouldn't be profitable for someone to operate an isolated section of a couple miles of unused track?
no filing to abandon has been filed with the stb.
wisconsin central had filed and received discontinuance of service.

I was referring to the whole line

Maybe cuz they wanted to keep the line

[NS3322]

When was the last time Baraga actually had a rail served customer? I have always wondered about that.

By the way, go get ‘em Mike H (regarding transload opportunities - if anyone can, it’s Mike H!!)

I believe the last customer was Beese which loaded pulpwood behind the now closed Terex Handlers plant near the end of the line. I believe this ceased around 2009/2010.

Here is a 2007 video of a CN train actually crossing N Superior Avenue at the very end of the line:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V846R8xvxaE

CertainTeed, Convergen Energy/L'Anse Warden Electric (burns railroad ties), and Koppers are still major customers in L'Anse.

[joeyuboats]

Is Terex the old Pettibone plant? And in L'anse, they still have Celotex, correct?

[AARR]

Yes and yes. Also, the cogeneration plant in L’Anse receives used railroad ties and might be the second largest customer after the mine in Humboldt.

Is Terex the old Pettibone plant? And in L'anse, they still have Celotex, correct?

[joeyuboats]

THANK YOU!

[AARR]

From ground level it can be difficult to tell which gondolas are bringing in used railroad ties and which ones are empties for new tie loading. Maybe they use the same ones.

Nancy Haun frequently posts videos on YouTube of the twice a week CN local into L’Anse.

CertainTeed, Convergen Energy/L'Anse Warden Electric (burns railroad ties), and Koppers are still major customers in L'Anse.

[MQT1223]

maybe because cn kept the line to l'anse?
and it wouldn't be profitable for someone to operate an isolated section of a couple miles of unused track?
no filing to abandon has been filed with the stb.
wisconsin central had filed and received discontinuance of service.

I was referring to the whole line

Maybe cuz they wanted to keep the line

Sure didn't seem like they wanted anything else up there!

[Mike H]

When was the last time Baraga actually had a rail served customer? I have always wondered about that.

By the way, go get ‘em Mike H (regarding transload opportunities - if anyone can, it’s Mike H!!)

You & AARR are too kind to me. There is definitely some potential business in Baraga. I’ve identified about 400 cars of potential business, but I think it could be as big as 600 cars. It’s definitely enough to justify saving the line & CN is aware of this. I still have a lot of hope that the line will be saved.

Mike H

[David Lang]

Just like I said...the amazing Mike H!!

Of course we realize the word "potential" is being used here, but let's hope the new business materializes and CN buys in.

[Saturnalia]

Part of the problem is that CN will want higher margins, greater volume, and consistency than a shortline would typically tolerate. There was a study undertaken awhile back about pulpwood transportation around the UP and northern Wisconsin and the team found little rhyme or reason to the freight rail rates, largely from CN. They ultimately wanted volume, consistency and margin. There’s a reason most of the lesser pulpwood sidings have stopped shipping.