Conrail's GR to Jackson Line

[tsinoms]

Now that I work down by 44th Street and Kalamazoo, I've wondered if anyone has any photos on the line from Grand Rapids to Jackson before everything got torn out. I also wondered if anyone had like any track maps or maybe a list of industries that were served on the line.
Thanks in advance.

[PatAzo]

Look at a couple websites. canadasouthern.com and multimodalways.org. They will have timetables and track charts that will include that line.

[Mark F]

Short video of Middleville in 1956:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QeHw5Ipi1s

[Jetlink]

I remember seeing trains on that line in Hastings back in my youths. Blue engines . Sadly I didn't take pictures then either. There are still mile posts and whistle poles on the section between Middleville and Irving. I've encountered a handful of other artifacts on the line in a few other spots over the years as well.

[DelayInBlock]

I covered a brief history of the line in my JAIL video.

[J T]

Drayton, that video is 17+ min long. At what point in your video does the brief history occur? That way we can cut to the chase and not have to watch video we don't have time to watch.

[DelayInBlock]

Fast forward to 4:25. My apologies, JT!

[tsinoms]

Short video of Middleville in 1956:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QeHw5Ipi1s

Wow. That's a great find mark thank you for sharing! I will have to look for more when I get a second.

I remember seeing trains on that line in Hastings back in my youths. Blue engines . Sadly I didn't take pictures then either. There are still mile posts and whistle poles on the section between Middleville and Irving. I've encountered a handful of other artifacts on the line in a few other spots over the years as well.

Looks like I may need to talk to you randy.

I covered a brief history of the line in my JAIL video.

Nice video in background info Drayton. Other than a station that there are there any other signs that the line connected in Jackson?

[MQT1223]

One or both of the Cantilever signals that used to be at 44th and Kzoo protecting the crossing went to the Coopersville and Marne. It's still there just sitting on the ground. Anybody explain to me why it went there?

[SD80MAC]

One or both of the Cantilever signals that used to be at 44th and Kzoo protecting the crossing went to the Coopersville and Marne. It's still there just sitting on the ground. Anybody explain to me why it went there?

The president of the C&M bought them when the tracks were removed.

[Saturnalia]

One or both of the Cantilever signals that used to be at 44th and Kzoo protecting the crossing went to the Coopersville and Marne. It's still there just sitting on the ground. Anybody explain to me why it went there?

The president of the C&M bought them when the tracks were removed.

These aren't the ones in the SDG at Marne, are they?

[SD80MAC]

One or both of the Cantilever signals that used to be at 44th and Kzoo protecting the crossing went to the Coopersville and Marne. It's still there just sitting on the ground. Anybody explain to me why it went there?

The president of the C&M bought them when the tracks were removed.

These aren't the ones in the SDG at Marne, are they?

Yup.

[Saturnalia]

Why was the C&M interested in it? Doesn't seem to have a pertinent purpose on the road...?

[Raildudes dad]

Those are the pieces of a massive signal bridge that spanned the 5 lanes of 44th Street, just west of Kalamazoo. No cantilevers. Since the crossing was on a diagonal very close to the intersection, the east bound traffic signals were mounted on the signal bridge along with the RR flashers. All interconnected with the traffic signals. The track was gone to the east at the time and there was a beat up, rough rubber crossing there.

MI law says as long as the crossing is in place, the crossing protection must remain and all buses and hazmats must stop. In this case, the interconnected signal exempts them from stopping but most bus and hazmats will not take a chance and stop anyways.

The highway authority which was the Road Commission at the time was interested in pulling the crossing but was undecided on how to deal with the signal bridge. A RC employee who was a CM volunteer facilitated a deal where the C&M could have the signal bridge at no cost if they would remove it at no cost to the RC. Once the bridge and signals were removed, the RC pulled the rubber x-ing and paved the hole. The C&M then President felt it was worth paying for the rigging and transport if they should ever need a set of expensive overhead signals.

I remember the removal very well. It was done on a Saturday in November IIRC. Started out cloudy and cool about 8am, soon turned to semi solid rain all day until it was loaded on the trucks about 4pm. I wore a raincoat and a hardhat. My shirt for the most part stayed dry, the rest of my clothes were totally soaked, and I was COLD to the bone. What I haven't done for fun over the years.

[MQT1223]

Those are the pieces of a massive signal bridge that spanned the 5 lanes of 44th Street, just west of Kalamazoo. No cantilevers. Since the crossing was on a diagonal very close to the intersection, the east bound traffic signals were mounted on the signal bridge along with the RR flashers. All interconnected with the traffic signals. The track was gone to the east at the time and there was a beat up, rough rubber crossing there.

MI law says as long as the crossing is in place, the crossing protection must remain and all buses and hazmats must stop. In this case, the interconnected signal exempts them from stopping but most bus and hazmats will not take a chance and stop anyways.

The highway authority which was the Road Commission at the time was interested in pulling the crossing but was undecided on how to deal with the signal bridge. A RC employee who was a CM volunteer facilitated a deal where the C&M could have the signal bridge at no cost if they would remove it at no cost to the RC. Once the bridge and signals were removed, the RC pulled the rubber x-ing and paved the hole. The C&M then President felt it was worth paying for the rigging and transport if they should ever need a set of expensive overhead signals.

I remember the removal very well. It was done on a Saturday in November IIRC. Started out cloudy and cool about 8am, soon turned to semi solid rain all day until it was loaded on the trucks about 4pm. I wore a raincoat and a hardhat. My shirt for the most part stayed dry, the rest of my clothes were totally soaked, and I was COLD to the bone. What I haven't done for fun over the years.

Any photo's showing this setup? Only images I have seen of the 44th/Kzoo crossing were back when the crossing had flashers.

[GR Ron]

A RC employee who was a CM volunteer facilitated a deal where the C&M could have the signal bridge at no cost if they would remove it at no cost to the RC.

That RC guy keeps turning up here and there and everywhere!!!!!

[SousaKerry]

In Eaton Rapids behind Dowding Industries plant #3 is a short section of track that used to run from the main line to the old box plant (now Dowding plant 2) in the woods was a switch stand and a derail at the end of the access road along the side of plant 3(former pickle plant) When Dowding built plant 4 they made improvements to the road and covered up the derail as far as I know it is still buried there. I worked there for a year and a half about 8 years ago and I never worked up the courage to ask if I could take out the derail for them. Then I quit and they buried it.. oh well.

If your not familiar with Eaton Rapids, Dowding is on Marilin St. behind the Family Fair Grocery Store.

[Raildudes dad]

A RC employee who was a CM volunteer facilitated a deal where the C&M could have the signal bridge at no cost if they would remove it at no cost to the RC.

That RC guy keeps turning up here and there and everywhere!!!!!

Never know where he's been, is now, or where he will show up next LOL

[MQT1223]

Any photos of when the line was last in service or before it was lifted? Wasn't the line southeast of 44th/Kzoo last used in 83? Any modern photos of the line in use from the remaining portion northwest of Steelcase?

[SD80MAC]

Any photos of when the line was last in service or before it was lifted? Wasn't the line southeast of 44th/Kzoo last used in 83? Any modern photos of the line in use from the remaining portion northwest of Steelcase?

Nope, because it hasn't seen any use in "modern" times.